Ice pick scars are a type of acne scar that usually form due to acne leading to a papule. They are deep and cannot be treated with some common methods for acne scars. Laser treatment and punch excision treatment are two methods that can be used to reduce the effects of ice pick scars.
Ice pick scars are a type of scar caused by acne, most commonly on the cheeks. They get their name from its size and shape. The best treatment varies depending on the hardness of the scar itself.
The first type of acne scar, known as a hypertophic or keloid scar, is where too much collagen is produced, stretching the skin. The second category is where there has been tissue loss, similar to the damage caused by chickenpox. Ice pick scars fall into this second category.
These scars usually form due to acne leading to a papule. It is a type of skin lesion that is particularly narrow on the surface. However, the resulting scar usually runs deep into the skin. Because of this shape and the way the scar usually has a jagged edge, it can best be pictured by imagining the damage left behind from being stabbed with an ice pick. It is one of the most visibly striking types of acne scar.
Because ice pick scars are so deep, they usually extend into the dermis or subcutaneous skin layers: the second and third layers from the surface, respectively. This means that scars cannot be treated with some of the more common methods for acne scars, such as dermabrasion, which aim to smooth the top layer of skin. The scars are also usually too deep for punch grafts, in which skin from elsewhere on the body is implanted into the spaces created by the scar.
In some cases, the effects of ice pick scars can be reduced without having to remove the scar tissue. This can be done by stretching the skin, which smooths out the visible damage. However, this only works with softer scars.
One method of treating ice pick scars is laser treatment. This may involve using a laser to wound the affected area, which encourages the body to regenerate the skin, which softens and reshapes the scarred area. In other cases, the laser is actually used to remove the scar completely.
Another method is the punch excision treatment. This involves using an instrument to remove a section of skin in the affected area under local anesthesia. The surrounding skin is stretched and stitched in place until it heals. This method isn’t always as smooth or efficient as laser treatment, but it is significantly cheaper.
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