Acne

Acne Marks vs Acne Scars: Which Do You Actually Have?

By Sumaiya·19 August 2025· 6 min

Most 'acne scars' clients bring to us are actually post-inflammatory pigmentation (PIH) — flat brown or red marks. These fade with topicals alone.

The finger test

Stretch the skin gently. If the mark disappears when the skin flattens, it's a mark, not a scar. Scars leave visible texture change.

Marks: what works

Vitamin C, niacinamide, azelaic acid, SPF 50 daily. Peels accelerate fading. Typical timeline: 8–16 weeks.

Scars: what works

Microneedling (rolling scars), TCA CROSS (ice-pick), subcision (tethered), PRP add-on. Requires 4–8 sessions.

Combination cases

Most acne clients have both — plan for pigmentation first, then structural scar work.

Professional treatment

Treating acne at Nayami Cosmyc

Reading is the first step. These are the clinically supervised options Sumaiya uses for acne at our Vidya Vihar clinic in Mumbai — and online for reviews and follow-ups.

Knowledge Hub

Related guides in the Knowledge Hub

Longer, evidence-led explainers that go deeper than this page.

Home care

Products that support this at home

In-clinic work sets the direction; daily home care holds the result. These Nayami Cosmyc formulations are the ones we most often pair with acne.

Local access

Where patients travel to us from

Our clinic sits in Vidya Vihar, minutes from Kurla — with dedicated pages for each Mumbai catchment area.

Further reading

More on this topic from Sumaiya

Practical, India-specific writing from the clinic floor.

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