Acne scars are caused by injury to the skin as a result of the acne, and the way in which the body has tried to repair the damage. Different people scar in very different ways, some being much more susceptible than others. However irrespective of how vulnerable you are to scarring, it only happens when you have a severe outbreak of acne, and is rarely associated with the much more common mild cases.

Acne scars are classified under two broad headings, one being where extra skin tissue is present and the other being where there is loss of normal skin tissue.

Scars where extra skin tissue is deposited are called raised scars or keloid scars. They are composed of extra collagen which has been laid down under the skin. Sometimes these scars can be bigger than the original spots and often last for years, with darker skin being more prone to this type of scarring.

When skin tissue is lost the scarring is often referred to as sunken. These are much more common than raised scars and are characterised as pits in the skin. There are a whole range of further classifications associated with sunken scars, all of which describe the particular way in which the scar looks. For example ice-pick sunken scars look like wounds from an ice-pick (small with jagged edges and steep sides).

Irrespective of the type of skin that you have, there are some things you can do to reduce the occurrence of acne scars, these include:

1) Proactively seek out treatment for your acne before it becomes severe. See your doctor, start some topical medication, adjust your diet, do something to prevent a few spots becoming severe acne.

2) Try not to squeeze your spots; this single activity will dramatically reduce your chance of developing acne scars.

3) Dont pick or poke your spots with instruments such as nail files, and tweezers.

4) Use a good oil free moisturiser as part of your skin-care regime, to keep your skin supple and flexible.

Following these simple tips will ensure you dont do long term damage to your skin.