Boxcar Scars vs Rolling Scars

Round or oval depressed scars with relatively distinct edges. Broad depressed scars producing an undulating skin surface.

Research updated 2026-10-23

Educational illustration of healed broad indented scars with defined edges on the left cheek, with the face turned to the person’s right on medium skin.

AI-generated educational illustration of Rolling Scars: 1. Rolling Scars — Card Image. Not a clinical photograph.

Key differences What is it?What it looks like Diagrams When it starts Triggers Daily Care Treatment Outlook Complications When to get help Questions

Key differences

The same eight facts on every condition comparison.

Usual age

After inflamed acne

After teen acne

Where

Cheeks and temples

Cheeks

Main sign

Round dents with sharp edges

Broad wavy dips

Itch or pain

Neither

Contagious

Long term

Permanent without treatment

Scars

Is a scar

Yes

Who gets it

People who had inflamed acne

What is it?

Boxcar Scars

Rolling Scars

What is it?

What it is
Round or oval depressed scars with relatively distinct edges.

What it is
Broad depressed scars producing an undulating skin surface.

What it looks like

Boxcar Scars

A close-up of a cheek with multiple shallow round and angular pits with distinct edges.

Boxcar Scars Small depressions create a sharply textured surface across the cheek.

Rolling Scars

A cheek with broad shallow scars and an undulating texture.

Rolling Scars Soft-edged indentations create a gently rippled skin surface.

Skin tones

Educational illustration of healed broad indented scars with defined edges on the left cheek, with the face turned to the person’s right on light skin.

Educational illustration of healed broad indented scars with defined edges on the left cheek, with the face turned to the person’s right on brown skin.

Educational illustration of healed broad indented scars with defined edges on the left cheek, with the face turned to the person’s right on deep skin.

In the skin

Inflammation destroys localized supporting tissue beneath the surface. Healing leaves a depression with more defined edges than a broad rolling scar.

Fibrous attachments form between the skin and deeper tissue during healing. These tethers pull parts of the surface downward, producing broad, uneven depressions.

When it usually starts

010203040506070+

Boxcar Scars. Develops after relevant injury, inflammation or tissue change; age depends on the cause.

Rolling Scars. Develops after relevant injury, inflammation or tissue change; age depends on the cause.

Causes and triggers

Causes

Local tissue loss after inflammation leaves an edged depression.

Fibrous attachments can tether the skin to deeper tissue.

Risk factors

Prior skin inflammation or injury, Individual healing tendency

Trigger

● Boxcar Scars

● Rolling Scars

No established short-term flare trigger

Not a typical trigger

Daily Care

Boxcar Scars

Rolling Scars

Daily care

Habits that help

Use broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher on healed exposed skin
Sun protection helps limit persistent color changes around scars.
Keep healed skin comfortable with gentle cleansing and moisturizer
These measures support the skin barrier but cannot reliably lift established depressions.
Control active acne or inflammation before elective scar procedures
Ongoing lesions can create new scars even while older ones are being treated.
Use photographs in consistent light to track change
Scars change slowly; compare over months rather than repeatedly inspecting each day.

Avoid

Avoid: Picking new spots, crusts or healing wounds
Repeated injury increases the chance of further marks and scarring.
Avoid: Home needling, deep peels or cutting scar tissue
These can worsen scarring or cause infection, especially before a wound has fully healed.

Habits that help

Use broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher on healed exposed skin
Sun protection helps limit persistent color changes around scars.
Keep healed skin comfortable with gentle cleansing and moisturizer
These measures support the skin barrier but cannot reliably lift established depressions.
Control active acne or inflammation before elective scar procedures
Ongoing lesions can create new scars even while older ones are being treated.
Use photographs in consistent light to track change
Scars change slowly; compare over months rather than repeatedly inspecting each day.

Avoid

Avoid: Picking new spots, crusts or healing wounds
Repeated injury increases the chance of further marks and scarring.
Avoid: Home needling, deep peels or cutting scar tissue
These can worsen scarring or cause infection, especially before a wound has fully healed.

Treatment differences

Evidence labels come from each condition’s own treatment list.

Treatment

● Boxcar Scars

● Rolling Scars

Procedures

Depth-specific scar treatment

Listed

Selected scars may benefit from resurfacing or punch techniques; depth and skin tone guide the choice.

None listed

Outlook

Long term

Boxcar scars generally persist, although their appearance can improve with appropriately selected procedures. Scar depth and edge shape influence treatment, and complete removal is unlikely.

Rolling scars usually persist because tissue beneath the skin tethers the surface. Selected procedures may improve contour, but a combination of approaches and realistic expectations is often needed.