deep saucer shaped acne scar?

[Jeffjam]

Every once in a while I will get what starts out as a pimple and eventually turns into a deep cratered sore.  Not all pimples on me do this and they usually happen on my face.  I do tend to pick at them a little.  I used to do alot of Cocaine and got them regularly back then.  I haven't done drugs in 10 years and haven't had one of these places come up in about a year and a half.  But I've got one now.  Sigh... When if finally heals, it leaves a pretty sever saucer shaped pitted scar.  
Do you have any suggestions on what this may be?  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  I'm not a big doctor person but am considering going to a dermatologist to treat the scars left behind.  

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Pimples only become cratered sores if you pick at them, and it's clear that you do.  Even if you pick a spot into a crater, it will still heal, often with no permanent scar, if you leave the spot alone long enough.  I suggest that you apply bacitracin ointment on the spot daily for 3 months and that you absolutely, positively, leave the spot alone otherwise.  After 3 months, show the spot to a dermatologist for further advice.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff

[loiloi]

Well done for giving up drugs it must have been very hard for you. Your complexion and general health have improved as a result. I like Clinique's Blemish Solutions range. Their Post Blemish Formula will help spots heal more quickly and prevent them coming back in the same place. If you have older scars use their Even Better Skin Tone Corrector which removes the marks acne leaves behind.
Eloise x

[ShellEliz]

I am just researching staph bacteria that live undetected upon skin usually inside nose for sure, but also on top of skin waiting for an opening or scratch or even a hair follicle opening.  Staph bacteria apparently can be or go anywhere, but most commonly deals with skin.  The MRSA, is a staph bug which developed strength against antibiotics through past wars, its offspring passed on to other people.  The reason that one is serious is due to the fact that it resists antibiotics, thus can kill if it moves into a bloodstream, organ or hits someone with low immue system.   Doing illigal drugs in the past (can) affect someones over all immune system strength.  I am going to post questions myself, but from what I have read, you likely got the staph bacteria that live on your skin into the opening causing a deeper sore. Yes they are contagious, the staph in them are a strong microscopic skin contact bug.  Picking or other pimples would be means of other openings and movement of the bacteria from one area to the next.  Good face and hand and nail washing evey day will help keep staph bacteria levels low. Staph tends to colonize in the nose, you can get a nasal swab test at Dr.s office to see if you are "colonized" with staph.  But most people have it on them in normal amounts as it is a fact of life that that bacteria lives as we do.  The variety of strains, and treatments though are what I am not fully sure of.  Currently I got a prescrition for Bactroban ointment. Per my request to my doctor, I don't know if it will work or not.  But I know Bacitracin Ointment should NEVER be used on wounds with staph in them, as that is the type of stuff the staph is resisting and learning how to resist.  I am pretty sure thats what happened to me, I think I had empetigo (another form of staph infection) and I used bacitracin on them sometimes, they NEVER seemed to heal.  I used a lot of old MAKE UP and COVER UPs that probably contained bacteria as well, so my outbreaks were on-going.  I just leaned that.  So in your case, I would say, wash your face well daily to keep down staph, get tested for staph next time you have one.  Or they give you prescriptions for skin infections.  But if you are a picker you are more suseptible.