What’s the Difference Between Acne Marks vs. Acne Scars?

Acne marks are red or brown spots, which can often be mistaken for acne scars. Acne marks are caused by an inflamed lesion such as a pimple or blemish. For many people, inflamed pimples leave a dark or red mark that will fade over a few weeks to a few months.

However, if your breakouts are more severe or your acne is cystic, there can be significant inflammation in the skin causing the skin to heal with an acne scar. An acne scar is typically a small indentation in the skin. These scars can be shallow (more common in rolling and boxcar scars) or very deep (ice pick scars). Picking at pimples can also lead to an increase chance of scarring.