pockmark

A pockmark is a small, depressed scar left on the skin after a lesion has healed. The term is commonly used for scars that form after diseases such as chickenpox or smallpox, as well as after severe acne. Pockmarks most noticeable on the face but can occur anywhere on the body.

They form when inflammatory skin lesions damage the dermal collagen and underlying tissue, and the skin heals with the formation of a scar that has less volume than surrounding skin. The resulting depressions vary in depth and width; some are shallow and faint, while others are deep and well defined. Pigment changes around the scar may make pockmarks more noticeable.

Pockmarks are more frequently observed in individuals with substantial inflammatory skin disease or limited access to early treatment. Historically, facial pockmarks were common among survivors of large smallpox outbreaks. In modern contexts, acne-related pockmarks remain a common cosmetic concern in many populations.

Treatment aims to improve texture and color and is tailored to scar depth, skin type, and patient goals. Options include laser resurfacing, dermabrasion, punch excision or grafting for isolated scars, chemical peels, microneedling, and injectable fillers to raise depressed areas. A combination of therapies is sometimes used. Preventive emphasis is placed on early, effective management of active skin infections, varicella or acne to minimize scarring.

See also: acne scar, dermatology, varicella, smallpox.