Do acne marks go away, and does squeezing a spot leave a scar?

The marks left after a spot are of two kinds, and the answer depends on the kind.

• Red or brown marks. This is a colour change left where the spot healed; the skin texture is not damaged. It often fades on its own within months. Protecting the skin from the sun shortens this time.
• Pitted scars. When a spot becomes deeply inflamed, there is a permanent loss of tissue. These scars do not go away on their own.

Squeezing a spot raises the risk of scarring. When it is squeezed, the inflammation can be pushed deeper and the surrounding tissue is damaged. A brown mark lasts longer and the chance of a pitted scar goes up.

The first step for marks is to prevent new ones. In someone whose spots are still going on, the spots themselves are brought under control first, and mark treatment is planned afterwards.

For pitted scars, laser, peels and other procedures are used. Which one suits is decided at the examination, from the type and depth of the scar.