Can acne scars worsen as you age and what can you do about it? If you’ve been living with acne scars for years, you may have noticed something: what looked manageable in your twenties has become more visible in your thirties. The pits, the shadows, the texture, they all seem deeper. And its not just in your imagination. Acne scars can worsen with age, but that doesn’t mean you’re out of options. Let’s explore why that happens, what you can do now, and how you can prevent further damage so your scars don’t dominate your reflection any more.
Why acne scars can appear worse over time?
At the heart of acne scarring are two things: inflammation (which damages the skin’s structure) and impaired healing (which leads to abnormal repair). When the scar forms, collagen is disrupted and the dermal architecture beneath the surface is altered.
Now fast forward years. Ageing introduces additional layers of change. Your collagen production slows, your fat pads reduce volume, your skin’s support structure becomes less firm. What used to be a shallow depression might feel more pronounced when the skin around it sags or loses fullness. So it’s not that the scar “grows”. It’s that the skin around weakens. The context changes and the scar becomes more visible.
What makes acne scars get ‘worse’?
- Volume loss and fat deflation – As you age, especially in your 30s and 40s, the underlying support for your skin diminishes. This makes depressions appear deeper.
- Reduced collagen and elastin – With fewer repair materials, your skin can’t bounce back the way it used to. Scars that were stable might start to cast greater shadows.
- Skin laxity and gravity – Areas around the jawline, cheeks or temples may loosen, making the skin surface uneven and highlighting pits or indents.
- Habitual picking or untreated active acne – If acne continues or you’ve interfered with lesions, more scar tissue may form over time.
- Sun damage and environmental impact – Unprotected decades in the sun worsen texture and pigment around scars, making them look worse.
What you can do right now to prevent worsening?
Here’s the good news: even though the context changes, you can intervene. And the sooner you act, the better.
- Address any active acne first. If new breakouts are still happening, you’re adding new damage. Clear the acne so your skin can repair.
- Choose treatments that rebuild structure. Technology like microneedling, laser resurfacing and exosome therapies can remodel skin and improve scars even years later.
- Support skin health at home. Use consistent skincare that promotes collagen, protects against sun damage, and keeps the skin surface healthy.
- Protect with SPF every day. Without it, shadows deepen and texture worsens, even well-treated scars may reappear.
- Consider volume support if needed. If the skin around the scar has deflated significantly, fillers or fat transfer can raise the surrounding tissue and make the scar less visible. Ageing changes the support system beneath the surface.. so you may need help with that.
Scars don’t get better by themselves
Unlike superficial marks, deep acne scars don’t fade fully on their own. The skin won’t magically “fill in” over time. Some softening occurs, but without intervention the result is more about change in context than true improvement.
Are your scars getting worse?
Ageing plus untreated scars plus skin laxity equals a perfect storm for scars to appear more pronounced. But there is hope. You are absolutely still in a position to improve what you see in the mirror. If you’re ready to rebuild the foundation rather than cover it up, you’re welcome to book a consultation at Skin Perfection London. We’ll assess why your scars are changing, what your skin support system needs, and craft a plan to reverse, soften and rebuild, reminding your skin of the strength it once had.
