Are acne scars permanent?

If you have acne, you know you’re not alone. The American Academy of Dermatology states around 50 million people in the USA experience acne breakouts every year. The aftermath of these breakouts: acne scars.

They can show up in the form of small indentations, mottled texture, or redness on the skin, lingering for longer than we’d like. The big question is, are acne scars permanent? Here’s everything you need to know.

Let’s start with how acne makes an (unwelcome) appearance first.
Acne is an inflammatory disorder of the skin, and breakouts occur when a follicle or pore gets blocked by excess oil, bacteria or dead skin cells. When this happens, the pore swells up and the follicle’s walls break down, resulting in acne scars.
If the follicle walls break near the surface of the skin, it’s a minor wound that can usually heal quickly without leaving a mark. However, the larger and deeper the inflamed pore, the more serious the lesion. This is because the infected parts spread into the surrounding dermis and damage the healthy skin tissue around it.
To repair the damage, skin produces new collagen (the protein that gives skin its elasticity). But just like patching up an old pair of jeans, the new “fabric” doesn’t quite match the original. The same goes for your skin — leaving acne scars and uneven texture behind.

Keloid or Hypertrophic Scars
After a breakout, your skin can overcompensate by producing too much collagen to repair the area. This leads to raised tissue on the surface of the skin, giving a bumpy, uneven appearance.

Atrophic Scars
Atrophic scars are the opposite — they occur when the skin is unable to regenerate tissue, so the blemish heals underneath the normal layer of skin. The three main types include:

Acne scars aren’t necessarily permanent, and there are ways to improve their appearance.

Rule #1: never pick or squeeze breakouts — it makes them worse.
Scroll for more solutions:

Retinol
Retinol is a derivative of vitamin A, essential for healthy skin. It stimulates fibroblasts (cells that produce collagen and tissue at the deepest skin layer), keeping it firm and elastic. By doing this, it encourages skin cell turnover, eventually smoothing the uneven texture of acne scars over time.
If your skin feels too sensitized after topical retinol, try SKIN FILTER as an ingestible alternative. Formulated with beta carotene (which the body converts to vitamin A), it has all the benefits of retinol without irritation and dryness — improving the look of long-term scars while also preventing further breakouts.

AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids)
AHAs are chemical exfoliants used for their resurfacing benefits. Unlike gritty scrubs that can cause micro-tears, AHAs “unglue” dead skin cells from the surface, lifting them away without irritation. THE PILL is a serum-like topical supplement formulated with 6 AHAs, including glycolic acid — heroed for its skin-resurfacing properties. It’s clinically proven to increase cell renewal by 24%*, smoothing skin texture and reducing red acne scars and dark marks over time.
*In an independent study.

Vitamin C
Vitamin C does more than brighten — it’s a powerful antioxidant that boosts cell turnover and collagen production. By removing dulling dead cells and encouraging regeneration, it improves texture, balances uneven tone, and fades hyperpigmentation. TOPICAL-C is our powdered vitamin C formula (10% ascorbic acid, clinically studied) designed for potency. Just mix with moisturizer to activate.

Lasers, Microneedling or Chemical Peels
For more severe scarring, a dermatologist can recommend the right treatment. Options include:

As always, speak to a dermatologist to determine the best treatment for your skin.

Looking to learn more about your skin? Read Immunity on the Surface
— why your skin microbiome is just as important as your gut microbiome.