Acne scars don't affect everyone who suffers from acne.
They tend to be most common with people who suffer from more severe forms of acne.
They are often a result of picking at acne nodules, causing more damage to the skin than would otherwise occur.
The best way to deal with acne scars is to avoid them in the first place.
Treating acne soon after it appears and not picking or scratching at it will make a big difference.
If scarring does occur, however, there are several things that can be done.
One treatment for acne scars is called laser resurfacing, which removed the top layer of damaged skin and helps tighten the middle layer.
This results in smoother skin with less scarring.
This treatment is normally carried out at either a doctor's office or a dermatology clinic.
It can take anywhere from just a few minutes to an hour or more to complete.
Once the treatment is complete, it generally takes anywhere from 3 to 10 days for the skin to heal.
Another treatment for acne scarring is dermabrasion.
This treatment uses a spinning diamond instrument or a rotating wire brush to essentially "wear down" the skin's surface.
As the skin heals itself, it's replaced by a layer of smoother skin.
The healing time is longer after dermabrasion - often anywhere from 10 weeks to several months.
Keep in mind that with either of these treatments, they are irritating the skin which will result in redness that can last for several weeks.
Plus, they're only possible when the acne is in remission.
For less severe scarring, a chemical peel or microdermabrasion may be all that is necessary.
These are usual quicker to administer and can be handled right in your doctor's office.
On the more severe side, if the scars are quite deep, the only effective treatment may be surgery.
Your doctor or dermatologist will be able to help you determine the best treatment for your particular case.