Acne Scar Cream? First Sort Your Scar Types and Prep for a Consult

10 sourcesLarge or systematic studies 4Small or observational studies 4Medical societies & agencies 2Reviewed Oct 1, 2026Next review Apr 1, 2027See sources Evidence criteria

Before you pick something to put on acne scars, write down each scar's shape and location, then take photos under the same conditions and bring them to a dermatology consult.

A male student in a white short-sleeved shirt at a desk in a room at dusk, drawing a red circle around a date on a wall calendar

What to sort out	Known fact	Basis
How common	In an analysis pooling 24,649 acne patients, 47% had scars, and the share rose with acne severity (mild 46%, moderate 67%, severe 82%)	2023 meta-analysis · A
Do shapes mix?	Among 100 scar patients, 94% had ice pick scars, 86% rolling scars, and 54% boxcar scars, so several shapes overlapped in one person	2020 cross-sectional study · B
Shape judged by eye	8 scars classed as ice pick by eye looked like boxcar scars on ultrasound (out of 81)	2013 · B
Similar-sounding names	Cica-Care is the product name of a silicone gel sheet for scars, while “cica” in cosmetics refers to the plant ingredient Centella asiatica	Editorial distinction

What should you sort out before looking for an acne scar cream?

First, sort each spot into a sunken scar, a raised scar, or a flat mark with only color left. The Korean Dermatological Association, a professional society in Korea, says depressed or hypertrophic scars can remain after acne, and that deep spots like pustules (pus-filled bumps) or nodules can become permanent scars even after they settle down.

Even sunken scars rarely come in just one shape. In a 2020 study of 100 scar patients, ice pick, rolling, and boxcar scars often overlapped on the same face.

Close-up of a woman’s cheek from in front of the ear to the corner of the mouth, showing small red dots and one short dip among wide pores — Even within one cheek, mark dips and color-only spots separately.

How reliable is sorting scar shapes at home?

Treat the shapes you sort at home as notes to open the consult. In a 2013 study that re-examined 81 acne scars with ultrasound, 8 scars that had been classed as ice pick by eye actually had a boxcar shape.

Depth also measured differently by shape. In a 2026 study that examined 49 scar samples from skin of color under the microscope, the average depth was 1933.4 µm for ice pick scars and 1327.88 µm for boxcar scars. That is why you should bring three photos, front and both sides, taken by the same window at the same distance.

A man in a white T-shirt in a bathroom mirror, pressing his index finger to his cheek in front of the ear and studying his skin — Use the shapes you sorted in the mirror as notes to open the consult, and confirm the type at the visit.

What do you need to bring to the consult?

Bring your scar map, same-condition photos, and notes on when your acne started and your family history. In the meta-analysis, family history came with 2.73 times the odds of scarring, and in the 2020 study, 52 of 100 people did not start seeing a doctor until a year after their acne began.

If you have raised scars, silicone gel sheets may come up, but the research on them mostly involved hypertrophic scars and keloids. They are not the same thing as Centella (cica) cosmetics with a similar name, so ask about them separately at the consult.

The inside of a forearm stretched over a bed, with one short, raised pale pink line-shaped scar near the wrist — Give raised scars their own rows, separate from sunken ones, and note size and itching.

Acne scar map (consult prep sheet)

Area	Shape you see	Rough size	Color	Itching or pain
Forehead	Sunken / raised / color only	Grain of rice / pea	Red / brown / white	Yes / no
Left cheek
Right cheek
Chin and mouth area
Back and chest
Also note	When your acne started · family history · medicines and cosmetics you use now · past procedures and when

When is it time to book a dermatologist for your scars?

If you can already see sunken or raised scars, get a dermatology consult before you choose anything to put on them.
If deep, painful acne keeps coming up, see a doctor first, before more scars form.
If a scar itches or keeps rising, take your photos to a dermatologist to have it checked.

Evidence behind this scar map

A 2023 meta-analysis pooling 37 studies and 24,649 acne patients (PMID 37357642) found a scar prevalence of 47%, with male sex, family history, and acne severity as risk factors.
A 2020 study of 100 acne scar patients (PMID 33208997) observed ice pick scars in 94%, rolling in 86%, and boxcar in 54%, and 52 people started care a year after onset.
A 2025 review of 16 studies (481 people) of fractional radiofrequency microneedling alone (PMID 39781098) found the most common side effect was temporary redness lasting 7.8 days on average.

Frequently asked questions

What are white scars from acne?

The sources behind this article do not cover acne marks that look whiter than the skin around them on their own. The Korean Dermatological Association divides scars left after acne into depressed (sunken) scars and hypertrophic (raised) scars, and says color changes can last a year or longer. If you note whether the white spot is sunken, raised, or flat with only a color difference, it is easier to tell apart at your visit.

How many sessions do acne scars take, and is that set at a dermatology consult?

Yes. The number depends on the scar's shape and depth and the method chosen, so it is decided at the consult. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) says chemical peels can be repeated several times at set intervals depending on scar depth. Study designs also differ: one microneedling study gave 14 people 6 sessions 2 weeks apart, and one fractional laser study gave 13 people 3 sessions, once a month.

Why do acne scars itch?

The sources behind this article do not explain why acne scars itch. However, a 2007 study that followed 60 people with raised hypertrophic scars or keloids for 6 months rated itching and pain separately, alongside color and height, which shows itching is treated as a symptom worth checking. If a scar itches and keeps rising, have a dermatologist look at it and bring your photos.