What is the risk for acne scars for people with mild to moderate acne?

Everyone knows that severe acne leaves scars. What is the risk for acne scarring in people with mild to moderate acne? A recent study published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology looked at the number of scars that visited 120 dermatologists during one single 5 days’ work week.

Of the 1,972 people with acne that visited these dermatologists 843 (43%)) had acne scarring. As expected people with severe acne were more likely to have scars as compared to people with mild or med orate acne. Interestingly, 69% of the subjects with acne scars had mild or moderate acne at the time of the study visit. Risk factors correlated with increased likelihood of scarring were acne severity, time between acne onset and first effective treatment, relapsing acne, and male gender.

As treatments that can completely resolve acne scars are not yet available - prevention and early treatment remain a primary strategy against scars. It is vital for everyone with acne, including mild acne, to start effective therapy as early as possible, since treatment delay is a key modifiable risk factor for scarring.

Read more:
How to prevent and treat acne scars

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