What to Know About Ice Pick Scars
Ice pick scars are acne scars that have a sunken or pitted appearance. They make the skin look like it has been punctured by a tiny ice pick. Although acne is most common among teenagers, it affects people of all ages.
What Do Ice Pick Scars Look Like?
Acne is a common skin condition that happens when pores on your skin become clogged. Ice pick scars may remain after the acne has healed.
Visually, ice pick scars can appear like tiny craters over the cheeks. They are narrow, deep scars and less than 2 millimeters wide. They look as if a sharp object, like an ice pick, has punctured a hole in your skin.
What Causes Ice Pick Scars?
Across the globe, acne is one of the most common skin disorders treated by dermatologists. While it most often affects adolescents, it is not uncommon in adults and can also be seen in children.
Acne outbreaks result in damage to the skin and the tissue beneath it because the breakouts penetrate the skin deeply. Your body tries to repair the damage by making collagen. When too little collagen is produced, ice pick scars develop and leave behind noticeable pits or depressions in the skin.
As acne begins to heal, certain people are more prone to developing ice pick scars. In addition to genetics playing a role, the risk of getting acne scars increases if you:
- Have inflammatory acne
- Delay treatment
- Pick, squeeze, or pop acne
What Are the Treatments for Ice Pick Scars?
Products containing benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are effective treatments for ice pick acne scars. You can also now purchase topical retinoids, such as Differin®, over the counter at a pharmacy and use them as directed.
Successful medical procedures used for treating ice pick scars include the chemical reconstruction of skin scars (CROSS) using high concentrations of trichloroacetic acid. Here, the chemical is placed on each ice pick acne scar using a toothpick.
Other treatment methods include laser treatments, fillers, punch excision, punch grafting, and chemical peels. These treatments can be performed by dermatologists or dermatologic surgeons.
Early treatment. Early treatment can prevent the psychological stress that often comes with ice pick scars. Catching acne early can clear skin and prevent acne from getting worse. You may need to make prevention part of your daily ritual to prevent acne outbreaks, and that may be a better option than dealing with the stress of permanent acne scars.
Acne is often dismissed as a temporary problem in teenagers that will go away on its own. Treatment of ice pick scars is often delayed, particularly in males. But early treatment can prevent them from becoming a permanent scar.
Emotional effects. If you have ice pick scars from acne, be aware that the skin condition can affect more than just your appearance. Over time, acne can take a toll on your well-being and emotional health. Dealing with ice pick acne scars can cause low self-esteem, anger, frustration, anxiety, and poor self-image. Often, there are feelings of loneliness and depression that lead to a lower quality of life.
Ice pick scars are particularly stressful because they often occur on the cheeks of the face and are characterized by narrow, pitted shapes in the skin. These shapes are often more noticeable to the naked eye and are not covered up well with makeup.
Expected result. With time and persistence, most treatments can reduce the size and visibility of acne scars. Many scars fade and become barely noticeable. This is not the case with most ice pick scars. Due to the depression in the skin, treatments that help other acne scars fade or diminish over time are not as helpful.
How long does it take for acne scars to fade?
"The timeline for acne scar fading depends on several factors, including the type of scar, skin type, and whether any treatments are used. Some scars may never fully fade," says Sungat K. Grewal, MD, assistant professor of clinical dermatology and co-director of UCSF Laser Surgery & Aesthetic Medicine.
Without treatment, a scar tends to change in appearance for about one to two years before it settles, Grewal says. That happens due to a part of the healing process called remodeling.
Ice pick scars, she says, "are less likely to fade significantly on their own and typically require procedural treatments for meaningful improvement."
Can You Remove Ice Pick Scars 'Naturally'?
"Ice pick scars tend to be deep, and currently, there are no evidence-based natural remedies proven to improve them substantially," Grewal says.
How Can You Prevent Ice Pick Scars?
Early treatment of active acne is key, Grewal says. It's also important not to pop, squeeze, or pick at acne bumps because that raises the risk of deep scarring. Small adhesive hydrocolloid bandages commonly known as "pimple patches" or "acne dot stickers" can be placed directly over acne lesions and can ease skin inflammation while also discouraging picking, she says.
Some other skin care tips from the American Academy of Dermatology can also lower your risk of getting acne scars:
- Don't scrub your skin.
- Don't use abrasive or astringent cleansers.
- Avoid repeatedly touching your face throughout the day.
- Avoid the sun and stay away from tanning beds.
- Don't wear hats or tight headbands.
- Don't wait to consult a dermatologist.
Takeaways
Ice pick scars are acne scars that look sunken or pitted. Early treatment can help them become smaller and harder to see.
To lower the chances of getting ice pick scars, talk with a dermatologist and don't pick at your acne.
Ice Pick Scars FAQs
Will ice pick scars go away?
Ice pick scars are less likely than other acne scars to go away on their own, Grewal says. Most often, early treatment from a dermatologist is needed. Treatment can improve the appearance of ice pick scars over time, she says.
Can vitamin C heal ice pick scars?
"Vitamin C does not remodel collagen or improve the texture of ice pick scars," Grewal says. On the other hand, vitamin C can help brighten the skin and reduce areas of darker skin where acne has healed (also called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation), she adds.
Are ice pick scars genetic?
Ice pick scars themselves aren't passed from parent to child through genes, Grewal says. But "genetics can influence your likelihood of developing severe acne, your skin’s inflammatory response, and how you heal—all of which contribute to scarring patterns," she says.
