How to prevent acne scars

Key Steps to Prevent Acne Scars

Fewer breakouts mean fewer chances to scar, so the daily habits in this guide on how to prevent acne come first.

1. Never pick, pop, or squeeze

   Popping pushes debris deeper, raising inflammation and the chance of a scar, plus infection and dark marks. Touching your face makes acne worse.

2. Treat breakouts early

   Start when acne is mild and keep going after it clears, especially if a close relative has acne scars. Adapalene 0.1% gel and, since May 2026, a gel with adapalene 0.1% plus benzoyl peroxide 2.5% are sold without a prescription for ages 12 and up. Give each product 6 to 8 weeks.

   For a single new spot, the basics of how to get rid of pimples apply; start them the day it shows up.

3. Be gentle with your skin

   Skip scrubs and astringents, and wash with fingertips only. Scrubbing irritates inflamed skin.

4. Moisturize regularly

   Dry skin is irritated skin. Use a moisturizer made for acne-prone skin twice a day.

5. Wear daily sunscreen

   Sunscreen keeps marks from darkening and helps them clear, but it does not stop a pit forming.

6. See a dermatologist

   Any deep, painful pimple, cyst or nodule is a reason to book a visit. The sooner treatment starts, the fewer scars.

How acne scars form

Acne scars are marks left when skin repairs deep breakout damage. It means the skin heals by making new collagen. The cause of acne scars is the amount of that collagen: too little leaves a dip, too much leaves a raised scar.

Deep breakouts like cysts and nodules scar most. Most scars are sunken, and ice pick scars make up 60 to 70% of them.

Who gets scars

43% of 1,972 patients seen by US dermatologists for acne had scars, and 69% of them had only mild or moderate acne at that visit.

Strongest risk factors

Severity, time before the first treatment that works, acne that keeps coming back, male sex, a close relative with scars, and smoking.

Mild acne can scar too. A photo can grade how severe yours is.

What early treatment did in a trial

In 67 people with moderate or severe acne, a prescription adapalene plus benzoyl peroxide gel on one half of the face cut the scar count by 15.5% over 24 weeks, while the half treated with a plain gel gained 14.4%. For severe or scarring acne, the 2024 US guideline strongly recommends it, so ask your doctor about isotretinoin.

Deep, painful bumps along the jaw that come back with every period are often hormonal acne, which needs its own plan before it scars.

Who scars more easily

• Darker skin: raised scars, keloids and dark spots are more common, more so if acne gets moderate or severe before treatment.
• Deep breakouts on the jaw, chest and back, where raised (hypertrophic) scars tend to form.
• A family history of acne scars.

If a scar has already formed

Treat the acne first. A dermatologist can then use chemical peels, lasers, microneedling (safe for all skin tones) or a retinoid for mild scarring; insurance does not cover it. Flat brown or red marks are not scars and fade with time and sunscreen.