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Skin Condition · Kensington, London
Acne Scarring: Know Your Scar Type Before You Treat It
Acne scarring is a lasting change in the skin’s structure left behind after inflammatory acne. When inflammation damages collagen deep in the skin, healing can leave either a loss of tissue — pitted or tethered scars — or an excess, producing raised ones. It is different from the flat marks acne also leaves.
- Scar types identified
- Doctor-led assessment
- Kensington clinic
- Medically reviewed by Dr Prasad
This page reflects how acne scarring is assessed and managed at Faciem, and is reviewed for clinical accuracy.
Last reviewed: 14 September 2026.
Patient information only. Scar type and severity vary considerably, and any treatment plan follows a face-to-face consultation with Dr Prasad.
Patients since 2019
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TL;DR
Acne scarring is lasting structural damage left after inflammatory acne, caused when collagen and elastin are destroyed faster than the skin can rebuild them. Scars are commonly pitted — ice pick, boxcar or rolling — or raised, where too much collagen forms. Flat red or brown marks are not scars and usually fade on their own. Controlling active acne early is the single most effective way to limit scarring, and treatment is planned after assessment by Dr Prasad.
- Collagen damage, not surface marking
- Pitted, tethered or raised scar types
- Early acne control limits scarring most
About the Condition
What Is Acne Scarring?
Acne scarring is lasting change in the skin’s structure that follows inflammatory acne. Inflammation destroys collagen and elastin in the dermis, and the skin then repairs imperfectly — losing tissue to leave a depression, or laying down too much to leave a raised scar. Both are distinct from post-acne marks.
The main types of acne scar
Atrophic scars, where tissue is lost, are the most common. Ice pick scars are narrow and deep, like a puncture made with a fine point. Boxcar scars are wider with sharply defined edges, resembling shallow craters. Rolling scars are broader and shallower, tethered to deeper tissue by fibrous bands, which gives the skin an undulating surface in side lighting. Hypertrophic and keloid scars are the opposite problem: the skin lays down too much collagen and the scar sits proud of the surface. These are more common on the chest, shoulders and back than on the face, and more common in deeper skin tones. Most people have more than one type at once, which is why a single treatment rarely addresses everything present.
Scars and marks are not the same thing
Not every mark left by acne is a scar. Post-inflammatory erythema is the flat pink or red patch that lingers where a spot has been, and it is dilated blood vessels, not damaged collagen. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is the flat brown or grey equivalent, more common in deeper skin tones, caused by pigment released during inflammation. Both are flat. Run a finger over them and the skin still feels smooth. True scarring is textural — you can feel the dip or the raise, and it casts a shadow in angled light. The distinction matters because marks usually fade over months without intervention, while scars do not. Treating a mark as a scar means paying for a procedure that time would have delivered anyway.
Why timing matters more than technique
Acne scarring is far easier to prevent than to correct, and the window for preventing it is while the acne is still active. Every additional month of inflammation means more collagen damage, and no treatment fully restores what has been lost. Scar treatments improve appearance rather than remove scars: a realistic outcome is a meaningful reduction in depth and shadowing, not flat skin. This is why a plan for someone with both active acne and early scarring will usually address the acne first. It also explains the emphasis on not picking. Squeezing a deep spot pushes inflammatory material into surrounding tissue and is among the most common avoidable causes of scarring we see.
Causes & Contributing Factors
What Causes Acne Scarring?
Acne scarring is caused by inflammation reaching deep enough into the skin to destroy collagen and elastin faster than the body can repair them. How much scarring develops depends on how deep the inflammation went, how long it lasted, and how an individual’s skin heals.
Depth of inflammation
Spots confined to the surface rarely scar. Nodules and cysts sit deep in the dermis, where the structural collagen lives, and inflammation at that level is what damages it.
How long the acne lasts
The longer skin remains actively inflamed, the more cumulative collagen damage occurs. Acne left untreated for years is more likely to scar than acne of similar severity brought under control quickly.
Picking and squeezing
Manual pressure can rupture the follicle wall and spread inflammatory material into surrounding tissue. This is one of the most preventable causes of scarring, and it is why extraction in clinic is done under sterile, controlled conditions.
Individual healing response
Some people scar more readily than others at the same level of inflammation. A tendency towards keloid or hypertrophic scarring elsewhere on the body may indicate a higher risk on the face.
Delayed treatment
Scarring that has already formed will not be undone by treating the acne, but continuing acne adds to it. Early assessment matters most where scarring has begun, because prevention is more effective than correction.
Treatments We Offer
How Acne Scarring Is Treated at Faciem
Acne scar treatment is available at Faciem Dermatology & Medical Clinic on Kensington Church St, London, led by Dr Prasad. The aim is collagen induction — prompting the skin to rebuild its own collagen so that scar edges soften and depth reduces. Which route suits you depends on scar type, depth, skin tone and whether any acne is still active, so assessment always comes first.
01
Acne Treatment Clinic
Where acne is still active, controlling it is the first priority — every further month of inflammation adds collagen damage that no scar treatment recovers. Dr Prasad decides whether the acne needs treating before, or alongside, any scar work.
Best for: active acne with early scarring
Read about Acne Treatment Clinic
02
Chemical Peels
Controlled exfoliation triggers collagen remodelling and can soften shallow scarring and surface irregularity. Peel depth and formulation are matched to your scar type and skin tone.
Best for: shallow scarring and uneven texture
Read about Chemical Peels
03
TCA Peel
The ZO 3 Step Peel is a medium-depth TCA peel suited to medium-depth pitted scarring. The ZO Controlled Depth Peel is the deeper of the two, used for scarring and skin tightening, and usually needs about a week of downtime. Both require careful skin preparation beforehand.
Best for: medium-depth pitted scarring
Read about TCA Peel
Microneedling with the SkinPen device, Laser Genesis — performed at two-, four- or six-week intervals — and intra-lesional steroid injections for raised scars are also used at Faciem where the scar type suits them. Sequence and timing are agreed face to face with Dr Prasad, and outcomes differ from person to person.
When to Seek Medical Advice
When Should You See a Doctor About Acne Scarring?
See a doctor about acne scarring as soon as you notice texture change — a dip or ridge you can feel — and sooner still if your acne is still active. Early assessment protects the collagen you still have, which matters more than any treatment applied afterwards.
Worth getting checked
- Any pitting, tethering or raised texture you can feel as well as see
- Acne that is still active alongside scarring that has already started
- Raised or thickened scars, particularly on the chest, shoulders or back
- Marks that have not faded at all after six to twelve months
Conditions that can look similar
- Flat red or brown marks are post-inflammatory erythema or hyperpigmentation, not scars, and these usually fade without treatment. Enlarged pores, keratosis pilaris and the pitting left by chickenpox can all resemble acne scarring. A raised lump that keeps growing, bleeds or changes appearance should be examined in person before anyone assumes it is scar tissue.
Self-Care & Prevention
Looking After Acne-Scarred Skin at Home
Home care cannot remodel scar tissue, but it can prevent more of it forming and help the marks alongside it fade. The priorities are leaving spots alone, protecting skin from sun, and staying consistent with whatever is treating the underlying acne.
Do
- Stay on your acne regime for the full 8 to 12 weeks it needs before results are judged — consistent acne control is the most effective scar prevention available
- Apply a broad-spectrum SPF 50 every morning, year round, and reapply every two hours in strong sun, which helps marks fade and stops them darkening
- Book a deep spot that has not settled within seven days in for sterile in-clinic extraction instead of tackling it yourself
- Allow six to twelve months before judging whether a flat mark is permanent
Avoid
- Picking, squeezing or needling spots — leave a deep one alone for the five to seven days it takes to settle
- Abrasive scrubs and daily acid use; keep any exfoliating acid to two or three nights a week at most
- Judging a flat mark within the first six months, when most are still fading on their own
- Deliberate sun exposure and sunbeds for at least four weeks after any peel or resurfacing treatment
This is general guidance and does not replace individual assessment. What suits your skin depends on your scar type, your skin tone and whether acne is still active.
Why Patients Choose Faciem
Scar Treatment That Starts With the Scar Type
Acne scarring is not one problem. Ice pick, boxcar, rolling and raised scars respond differently, and a treatment chosen without first identifying the type is as likely to disappoint as to help.
- Scar type, depth and distribution identified before any treatment is chosen
- Assessed by Dr Prasad, a GMC-registered doctor — not by product recommendation
- Active acne addressed first where it is still contributing to scarring
- Honest discussion of realistic improvement, including what will not change
Experience & Expertise
Why Scarring Should Be Assessed Before It Is Treated
Acne scarring rewards accurate assessment more than almost any other skin concern, because the scar types can look similar in a mirror and behave completely differently under treatment. A rolling scar tethered to deeper tissue needs a different approach from a sharply defined boxcar scar, and a raised scar needs a different approach again. Skin tone changes the calculation too. It is graded on the Fitzpatrick scale, I to VI, and that grading shapes how any resurfacing treatment is set up: deeper skin tones, Fitzpatrick IV to VI, can be treated for acne scarring, but peel depth, laser wavelength and energy are adjusted downwards, intervals between sessions are lengthened, a patch test carries more weight and skin is often prepared for four to six weeks beforehand — because the risk being managed is post-inflammatory pigmentation as much as the scar itself. Dr Prasad establishes which scar types are present, whether acne is still active, and what improvement is realistic before recommending anything.
- Dr Anamica Prasad — MBChB (1999), Dip Dermatology (2001), MRCGP, DFFP, DRCOG · a GMC-registered doctor
- Member of the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP), British Medical Laser Association (BMLA), Royal Society of Medicine and the Aesthetic Complications Group
- Clinic operated by Derma Medical UK Ltd, registered with the Care Quality Commission for diagnostic and screening procedures, surgical procedures, and treatment of disease, disorder or injury · CQC Location ID 1-25573003746
- Face-to-face medical consultation and skin assessment before any scar treatment is planned
- 20 years’ experience in dermatology, including extensive NHS practice, treating acne and acne scarring across every skin tone
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Acne Scarring FAQs
Your Questions, Answered
Acne scarring attracts more half-truths than most skin problems. These answers stick to what holds up clinically; anything specific to your own skin belongs at consultation.
Can I wear makeup after acne scar treatment?
Makeup can go back on 24 hours after microneedling, once any pinpoint bleeding has sealed, and a mineral formulation is the kindest first choice. After a peel, wait until flaking has finished — usually five to seven days — because makeup applied over lifting skin drags at it and irritates the texture you are trying to improve. Whichever treatment you have had, sunscreen goes on before makeup every morning for at least the first month.
Do acne scars go away on their own?
True acne scars do not resolve on their own, because the collagen structure itself has been damaged. Flat red or brown marks left once spots clear are a different thing and usually fade over six to twelve months, sometimes longer in deeper skin tones. If you can feel a dip or a raised area, it is likely to be a scar.
How do I get rid of acne scars?
Acne scar treatment improves how scars look; it does not remove them. Most approaches work by encouraging collagen remodelling — chemical peels, deeper TCA peels, microneedling and laser. Which suits you depends on scar type, depth and skin tone, and where acne is still active, controlling it comes first, because ongoing inflammation adds to the scarring.
How much time off work do I need after acne scar treatment?
Most acne scar treatment fits around work. Microneedling and lighter peels leave redness resembling mild sunburn for 24 to 48 hours, which cover-up handles from the second day. Medium-depth TCA peels flake for roughly five to seven days, so many people book them before a quieter week. The deeper ZO Controlled Depth Peel needs about a week of visible downtime and is planned well ahead of any event. Scarring is corrected gradually, so sessions can be spaced around your diary.
Can raised or keloid acne scars be treated?
Yes. Hypertrophic and keloid acne scars form when inflammation triggers too much collagen, leaving a scar that sits proud of the skin — most often on the chest, shoulders and back, and more commonly in deeper skin tones. At Faciem these raised scars are treated with medicines and intra-lesional steroid injections, which calm the inflammation and reduce the excess collagen.
What is collagen induction and how does it help acne scars?
Collagen induction is the principle behind most acne scar treatment: stimulating the skin to rebuild its own collagen so that scars become shallower and less shadowed. At Faciem it is delivered through microneedling with the SkinPen device, TCA peels such as the ZO 3 Step Peel, Laser Genesis, and high-potency retinol within a prescribed skincare routine. Dr Prasad selects the route by scar type.
How much does acne scar treatment cost?
The cost of treating acne scarring depends on three things: which scar types are present, which treatments suit them, and how many sessions the course needs — scarring is corrected gradually over months and priced accordingly. Prices for the peels used on scarring are published on our chemical peels page, and you receive a written plan with costs after assessment, before committing to anything.
Sources & Further Reading
- Acne complications, including scarring — NHS
- Acne scarring — DermNet NZ
- Acne patient information leaflet — British Association of Dermatologists
These are general sources of patient information and do not replace individual medical assessment. Your own diagnosis and treatment plan are established at consultation.
Acne Scarring in Kensington, London
A Doctor-Led Clinic in the Heart of Kensington
Scar treatment runs as a course over several months, so getting here needs to be easy. Faciem Dermatology & Medical Clinic sits on Kensington Church St, a few minutes’ walk from High Street Kensington station and around ten from Notting Hill Gate, with Kensington council underground parking nearby. The clinic is open Monday to Saturday, 10am–7pm, and closed on Sunday; Chelsea, Notting Hill, Holland Park and South Kensington are all a short journey away.
Plan Your Visit
- Faciem Dermatology & Medical Clinic
- Phone: +44 20 7131 3539
- 7 Kensington Church St, London W8 4LF, United Kingdom
- Tube: High Street Kensington (few minutes’ walk) · Notting Hill Gate (~10 minutes)
- Parking: Kensington council underground car park nearby
- Open Monday–Saturday, 10am–7pm · Sunday closed
- Scar assessments bookable online; treatment planned after review
- Consultation-first — no treatment without medical assessment
- Serving Kensington, Chelsea, Notting Hill & Central London
Continue Exploring
Related Conditions & Treatments
Acne
The condition behind the scarring — what causes it, and why bringing it under control early matters most.
Read more →
Hyper-pigmentation
The flat brown marks acne leaves behind, which are not scars and usually fade over months.
Read more →
Keloid & Raised Scarring
When skin lays down too much collagen during healing and the scar sits proud of the surface.
Read more →
Faciem Dermatology & Medical Clinic · Kensington
Start With an Accurate Scar Assessment
Book a consultation with Dr Prasad to establish which scar types you have, whether active acne is still adding to them, and what improvement is realistic for your skin.
Prefer to talk? +44 20 7131 3539