Why are some of my scars indented?

Pitted or sunken scars

Some scars caused by skin conditions, such as acne and chickenpox, can have a sunken or pitted appearance. Pitted scars, also known as atrophic or "ice-pick" scars, can also develop as a result of an injury that causes a loss of underlying fat.

Do indented scars go away?

It's natural to wonder, “Do indented scars fill in over time?” Unfortunately, these scars won't disappear on their own. Atrophic scars rarely go away completely, but with the help of a dermatology provider, you may be able to successfully reduce their appearance.

Why is my scar sunken?

Some scars can have a sunken or pitted appearance. This kind of scarring occurs when underlying structures supporting the skin (for example, fat or muscle) are lost. Some surgical scars have this appearance, as do some scars from acne. Scars also can appear as stretched skin.

Can you fix pitted scars?

Chemical peels Chemical peels are a common treatment for pitted scars. The peeling process involves destroying the damaged layer of skin by applying chemicals to the surface of the skin. The chemical solution causes the skin to peel off, creating a fresh layer underneath.

How do you make indented scars less noticeable?

Some medicated creams, such as those containing azelaic acid or hydroxyl acids, might help too. Soft tissue fillers. Injecting collagen, fat or other substances under the skin can plump the skin over indented scars. The goal is to make the scars less noticeable.

Can an indented scar be removed?

Does massage help indented scars?

Scar massage is an effective way to decrease scar tissue build up and help make scars less noticeable. Massage will not help soften a scar more than two years old.

Does the depth of a scar go away?

A scar may fade so much that you can barely see it, but it never completely goes away. Some scars cause problems months or years later. As nerve endings grow back, the scar may become painful or itchy. Skin cancer can develop in scars, especially in burn scars.

What does an atrophic scar look like?

Atrophic scars are characterized as a sunken area on a person's skin, often looking pitted. In many cases atrophic scars are caused by collagen destruction as the result of experiencing inflammatory conditions such as acne or chickenpox.

How do you plump depression scars?

Deep scars often require skin surgery and resurfacing. Dermatologists use fillers to safely and effectively plump depressed acne scars. A dermatologist may fill acne scars with collagen, the patient's own fat, or another substance. Many fillers give us temporary results, which last between 6 and 18 months.

Do scars fill in over time?

As the collagen bundles remodel themselves over time and contract, the final scar can be much smaller than the original wound. Shortly after the wound has filled up with granulation tissue, the epidermis begins to grow over it. This allows the final healed wound to resemble the surrounding skin as much as possible.

Does retinol help indented scars?

Because it increases cell turnover, retinol resurfaces the skin to smooth acne marks and scars and even hyperpigmentation while improving its overall texture. Retinol essentially clears the dead cells and makes space for new ones while giving you healthy, even-toned skin by kickstarting the cell turnover process.

Can you fix depressed scars?

Depressed scars can be improved by removing the scar surgically – usually in the office. Skin fillers can also be used to improve most depressed scars in an easy, immediate, and quick way. Advanced lasers or dermabrasion can also be used to treat skin areas with depressed scars, such as in acne scarring cases.

Are pitted scars permanent?

Raised and pitted acne scars are permanent and only go away with treatment. Some of the treatments for flat scars are also used to treat raised and pitted scars. For the best results, you may need additional types of in-office procedures, such as steroid injections or even surgery.

What is a depressed scar?

Types of scars

If your body doesn't produce enough collagen, you can end up with the opposite — a depressed scar. Depressed scars, also called atrophic, boxcar, icepick, and rolling scars, are more commonly found on the face as a result of acne.

What does abnormal scarring look like?

If the body makes too much scar tissue, abnormal scarring results. “Hypertrophic scars” are usually raised, red fibrous lesions, and keloid scars extend beyond the edges of the original cut or wound.

What is the best filler for indented scars?

Soft-tissue fillers – injections commercially known as Juvederm, Radiesse, Restylane and Sculptra – can be used to temporarily improve the appearance of depressed scars. Soft-tissue fillers are a good choice only for scars that are significantly depressed so they can be elevated by the filler.

How can I make my scars more visible?

How do you fix deep scars?

There are many options to treat deeper scars depending on your particular case. These include skin grafts, excision, dermabrasion, or laser surgery. In a skin graft, the surgeon uses skin from another area of your body. This is often used with people who've had burns.

Can scar tissue ever fully heal?

While some scar tissue will never go away, oftentimes, if treated properly, the injured tissue can be remolded to resemble normal, healthy tissue. This can restore normal tissue behavior and provide pain relief in any area of the body, even pelvic muscles following the birth of a baby.

Does Bio-Oil help indented scars?

Bio Oil works the same on all types of acne scars and other indented scars. Pockmarks, ice pick scars, rolling scars, or boxcar scars can be used with Bio-Oil.

Do scars eventually flatten?

The texture & appearance of your scar

Scars will nearly always mature and flatten, but the time interval for this to occur is variable, from several months to several years. Lumpiness and thickening of the scar can be due to scarring in the deeper layers of skin, fat and muscle.

Can you flatten old scars?

Corticosteroid injections: This is a main treatment for hypertrophic scars. Injections are made into the scar tissue. They flatten and soften scar tissue and ease pain and itch. Several shots may be needed, each given a few weeks apart.