Three things that make acne scarring worse

Scarring is largely determined by how long inflammation lasts, not by how severe a single breakout looks.

• Picking extends inflammation by days and pushes it deeper
• Stopping treatment the moment skin clears is the most common cause of relapse
• Waiting for acne to "pass on its own" past six months increases the chance of permanent texture change

If breakouts have been present for more than three months, or any lesion is painful and under the skin, that is the point to seek treatment rather than after the marks appear.