Types of Acne Scars & The Best Treatment for Each Type

By Dr. Empathy Team · 2025-09-05 · 6 min read · Acne

Not all acne scars are the same. Understanding your scar type is crucial for choosing the right treatment. Here's a dermatologist's guide.

The 5 Types of Acne Scars 1. Ice Pick Scars Look: Deep, narrow, V shaped holes Cause: Deep inflammatory acne Difficulty: Hardest to treat Best treatment: TCA Cross technique + ResurFX laser 2. Boxcar Scars Look: Wide, rectangular depressions with sharp edges Cause: Tissue destruction from inflammatory acne Difficulty: Moderate Best treatment: ResurFX laser + subcision 3. Rolling Scars Look: Broad depressions with sloping edges, skin looks wavy Cause: Fibrous bands pulling skin downward Difficulty: Moderate Best treatment: Subcision + PRP + microneedling 4. Hypertrophic/Keloid Scars Look: Raised, thick scars Cause: Excess collagen during healing Difficulty: Moderate to Hard Best treatment: Steroid injections + laser 5. Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH) Look: Flat dark spots (not true scars) Cause: Melanin overproduction after inflammation Difficulty: Easiest to treat Best treatment: Chemical peels + topical lightening agents Treatment Comparison Treatment Best For Sessions Downtime ResurFX Laser Deep scars 3 5 2 3 days Microneedling + PRP Rolling, mild scars 4 6 1 day Chemical Peels PIH, surface scars 4 6 None 1 day Subcision Rolling, boxcar 2 3 1 2 days TCA Cross Ice pick …

Tags: acne scars, scar types, treatment, resurfx