Atrophic scars are depressions causing a hole in the skin, usually with a sharp margin. They are due to collagen destruction during the process of an inflammatory skin disease. Common causes include acne and chicken pox. Linear suture scars can also become atrophic and appear wide and wrinkly with a hollow feeling in the scar itself.

They can be treated with dermadrasion, micro-dermabrasion, and ablative laser treatments. The goal of treatment is to soften depressions and stimulate new collagen synthesis to fill in the residual defects. The lasers used include CO2 laser or a modulated erbium-YAG laser. Those non-ablative types lasers do not produce the degree of improvement equal that of ablative lasers.

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