A Neglected Acne Scar Type: Papular Acne Scars and Their Correlations With Keloid Scars

<jats:sec> <jats:title>BACKGROUND</jats:title> <jats:p>Acne scarring can be divided into 2 types: atrophic and hypertrophic scars. Papular acne scars are commonly encountered, skin-colored papules on the chin and back.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>OBJECTIVE</jats:title> <jats:p>This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of each acne scar type and to investigate the clinical manifestations of papular acne scars.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>METHODS</jats:title> <jats:p>This retrospective study included 416 patients with acne scars. Dermatologists classified the scars into 3 types (atrophic, papular, and keloid type) based on clinical photographs and analyzed the clinical and histologic features of papular acne scars.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>RESULTS</jats:title> <jats:p>Among 416 patients with acne scars, 410 patients (98.56%) had atrophic scars, 53 patients (12.74%) had keloid scars, and 46 patients (11.06%) had papular acne scars. Twenty patients (4.81%) had both papular and keloid acne scars. Histologic analysis showed fibrotic tissue in both keloid and papular acne scars. Fibrosis of the papular scar was limited to the upper dermis.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>CONCLUSION</jats:title> <jats:p>Papular acne scars were significantly more prevalent in patients with keloid scars than in those without keloid scars. These results provide a basis for understanding papular acne scars, which have been under-recognized. The association between papular and keloid acne scars can suggest the decision for scar treatment.</jats:p> </jats:sec>