| Scars caused by acne are more common than | | | | resulting in a firm, smooth and irregularly-shaped |
| physicians once believed; most people will have | | | | scar. Keloids tend to be inherited where a genetic |
| acne scars that are mild. However, some will have | | | | predisposition to form keloids occurs after tissue |
| scars that are significant. The best approach is | | | | injury. African-Americans often have a |
| prevention and to treat acne promptly as | | | | predisposition to keloid formation. Some families |
| sometimes even mild acne can cause scarring, | | | | also tend to form hypertrophic acne scars or |
| Prompt acne treatment will minimize the risk of | | | | thickened acne scars. |
| permanent acne scars. | | | | 2. Acne Scars Resulting From Loss of Tissue |
| Acne scars result from tissue response to the | | | | Acne scars resulting from loss of tissue are more |
| inflammation caused by acne: | | | | common than scars resulting from increased |
| (1) Increased tissue formation | | | | tissue formation. There are several types of acne |
| (2) Loss of tissue. | | | | scars but the most common are: |
| 1. Increased Tissue Formation | | | | A. Ice-pick acne scars - derive their name from |
| The scars caused by increased tissue formation | | | | their appearance. They could be superficial or |
| are called keloids or hypertrophic scars. The word | | | | deep, are usually diminished in diameter and have |
| hypertrophy means "enlargement" or | | | | steep sides like an ice-pick wound. They could be |
| "overgrowth." Both hypertrophic and keloid scars | | | | also be hard or soft to the touch; the soft acne |
| are associated with excessive amounts of the cell | | | | scars are usually more skin-deep and the hard |
| substance collagen. Overproduction of collagen is a | | | | scars deeper. The base of hard scars under the |
| response of skin cells to injury. The excess | | | | skin may be wider than the scar at the surface |
| collagen becomes accumulated in fibrous masses, | | | | of the skin. |