Acne scars are scars that are left behind after a person has had acne. There are two main types of acne scars, defined by tissue response to inflammation:

(1) Scars generated by increased tissue formation, and

(2) Scars generated by loss of tissue.

Scars Generated by Increased Tissue Formation.

The creation of scars caused by increased tissue formation is known as keloids. Keloid scars are linked to excessive amounts of the cell substance, collagen. The overproduction of collagen is the body's response to damaged skin cells. This excess becomes piled up in fibrous accumulations, resulting in a characteristic firm, smooth, irregularly-shaped scars.

Keloid scars are 1 to 2 millimeters in diameter, but some can reach 1 centimeter or larger. This abnormal growth of scar tissue is more likely to occur in susceptible people that is, people who are often related to others with similar types of scarring.

Keloid scars persist for years, but may decrease their size over time.

Scars Generated by Loss of Tissue

Acne scars linked with loss of tissue, similar to scars resulting from chicken pox, are more common than keloids. Scars linked with loss of tissue are:

Ice-pick Scars or Pitted Scars

Commonly appear on the cheek. They are usually small, with visible jagged edges and steep side-like wounds that seem to create an "ice-picked" shape. Ice-pick scars may be shallow or deep, and may be hard or soft to the touch. Soft scars can be improved by stretching the skin; hard ice-pick scars cannot be stretched out.

Depressed fibrotic scars

Are usually big in size, with sharp edges and steep sides. The base of these scars is firm to the touch. Ice-pick scars may evolve into depressed fibrotic scars over time.

Soft scars

Superficial or deep and feel soft when touched. They have gently sloping rolled edges that merge with normal skin. They are usually small, and either circular or linear in shape.

Atrophic macules

Are usually fairly small when they appear on the face, but may be a centimeter or larger on the body. They are soft, often with a slightly wrinkled base, and may be bluish in appearance because of the blood vessels lying just under the scar. Over time, these scars change from bluish to ivory white in color in white-skinned people, so they become much less obvious.

Follicular macular atrophy

They are more likely to appear on the chest or back of someone with acne. These are tiny, white, soft lesions, often slightly raised above the surface of the skin something like whiteheads that did not fully develop. This condition is usually known as "perifollicular elastolysis." The lesions may persist for months or even years.

Organic Ingredient Revolutionizes Acne Scar Treatment

You can hope that your tissue imbalance can be treated with common chemical-based acne treatments that promise freeing your skin of acne breakouts, but that are incapable of treating the scars that are left behind after and acne inflammation has subsided. By applying these products you will likely end-up with a coarser texture that can present side-effects such as sun sensitivity, irritation or simply show no change at all. Your best bet is to apply biological ingredients that bring collagen production back-up to normal and help dissolve and regenerate scarred skin.

The majority of all regenerative ingredients contain natural oils, but only one ingredient is capable of supplying a balanced mix of ingredients that trigger skin renovation. That miraculous ingredient comes from a snail and is becoming the newest revolution in skin and scar treatment. Investigation has shown that snail secretion contains a combination of naturally occurring allantoine, vitamins, elastane, glycolic acid and collagen, however, don't forget that complete scar renewal depends on the treatment itself and the extension of the scar.

So next time you look at your acne scar in a mirror and wonder why all the acne creams you've tried haven't changed a thing, try using an natural ingredient that can help regenerate scarred skin.