What Is It Called When You Have Holes In Your Skin?

If you can see small openings, pits, or crater-like marks on your skin, the medical term depends on what is causing them. The general word for a small hole or opening in tissue is a fistula if it connects two body surfaces, a puncture if it came from an injury, or a sinus tract if it is a narrow channel under the skin. Most of the time, though, when people ask about “holes in their skin,” they are describing enlarged pores, acne scars, or a condition called hidradenitis suppurativa.

What Is It Called When You Have Holes In Your Skin?

The correct name depends on what the “hole” actually is. Doctors use different terms for different structures, and getting the name right matters because the causes and treatments are not the same.

An enlarged pore is not a true hole. It is the opening of a hair follicle or oil gland that has stretched over time. Pores do not open and close like windows, despite what skincare marketing often claims. Their visible size is largely determined by genetics, oil production, and the surrounding skin’s firmness.

An acne scar can look like a hole. Ice pick scars are narrow, deep indentations. Boxcar scars have sharper, more defined edges. Rolling scars create a wavy texture. These are not open channels. They are areas where collagen was lost during healing.

A true hole or tunnel under the skin has a specific name: a sinus tract or fistula. These form when inflammation or infection creates a channel that connects deeper tissue to the surface. Hidradenitis suppurativa is the condition most often linked to this pattern.

Picking at the skin can also create small holes. So can certain infections, surgical wounds that heal poorly, and rare genetic conditions.

What Causes Visible Pores And Pitted Skin?

Visible pores are normal anatomy, not a defect. Every person has millions of them. They house hair follicles and sebaceous glands, which produce oil to protect the skin.

What makes pores look larger is a combination of factors:

• Genetics. Some people simply have larger follicles by design.
• Oil production. Excess sebum can stretch the follicle opening.
• Loss of skin elasticity. As collagen and elastin decline with age, pores appear more prominent.
• Sun damage. UV exposure breaks down collagen and thickens the outer skin layer, which can make pores look bigger.
• Blackheads and clogged pores. Debris inside the follicle makes the opening more visible.

Pitted skin from acne scars is different. It results from inflammation that destroys collagen during the healing process. The deeper the inflammation, the more likely a permanent indentation will form.

One clarification worth making: pores do not “fill with dirt” in the way many people imagine. The dark color of a blackhead comes from oxidized melanin and oil, not from dirt.

What Is Hidradenitis Suppurativa And How Does It Cause Holes?

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that produces painful lumps, boils, and tunnels under the skin. It is one of the few conditions that genuinely creates hole-like openings.

HS develops when hair follicles become blocked and inflamed. Over time, the inflammation can destroy the follicle and create a channel — called a sinus tract — that connects to the surface. These tracts can drain fluid and may form scar tissue that looks like small craters or holes.

HS most commonly affects areas where skin rubs together: the armpits, groin, buttocks, and under the breasts. It is not caused by poor hygiene, and it is not contagious. The exact cause is not fully understood, but genetics and immune system dysfunction appear to play roles.

Diagnosis is often delayed because early HS can look like ordinary boils or acne. If you have recurring, painful lumps in the same areas that drain or leave scars, it is worth asking a dermatologist about HS specifically.

Can Picking Your Skin Create Holes?

Yes, but the mechanism is indirect. Picking, squeezing, or scratching can damage the skin enough to cause scarring. Over time, repeated trauma can leave pitted or crater-like marks.

In some cases, picking can introduce bacteria and lead to an infection that forms a small abscess. When that abscess drains, it may leave a temporary or permanent indentation.

People with excoriation disorder — a recognized psychiatric condition involving compulsive skin picking — may develop multiple small holes or scars over time. This is not a matter of willpower. It is a treatable condition that responds to therapy and, in some cases, medication.

The evidence on whether picking directly causes true fistulas or sinus tracts is limited. What is well established is that it can cause scarring and infection, both of which can look like holes.

What Other Conditions Can Cause Holes In The Skin?

Several other conditions can produce openings or pits in the skin. Some are common. Others are rare.

Pitted keratolysis is a bacterial infection that creates small, punched-out pits on the soles of the feet. It is more common in people who sweat heavily or wear occlusive footwear. The pits are typically shallow and painless.

Puncture wounds from nails, needles, or animal bites create a hole by physical injury. These need proper wound care because deep punctures can introduce bacteria.

Fistulas can form near the anus or between organs. These are medical conditions that require evaluation. They are not skin conditions in the usual sense.

Chickenpox scars can leave small, round depressions that look like holes. So can molluscum contagiosum after the bumps resolve.

Rare genetic conditions like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome can affect wound healing and leave unusual scars, but these are not common causes of hole-like skin changes.

How Are Holes In The Skin Treated?

Treatment depends entirely on the cause. There is no single approach that works for every type of hole or pit.

For enlarged pores, no treatment shrinks them permanently. Topical retinoids may improve their appearance by increasing cell turnover and collagen production. Laser treatments and microneedling are sometimes used, but results vary and repeat sessions are often needed.

For acne scars, dermatologists may recommend:

• Chemical peels to smooth shallow indentations
• Laser resurfacing to stimulate collagen
• Microneedling to create controlled injury and trigger repair
• Fillers to temporarily raise depressed areas
• Subcision to release tethered scars

These treatments can improve appearance, but they do not restore skin to its original state. Results vary by scar type, skin tone, and how the skin heals.

For hidradenitis suppurativa, treatment is different. Options include topical and oral antibiotics, biologic medications, hormonal therapy, and surgery to remove affected tissue. HS is a chronic condition, and management usually involves ongoing care rather than a one-time fix.

For pitted keratolysis, topical antibiotics are typically effective. Keeping feet dry and changing socks regularly helps prevent recurrence.

If a hole in your skin is new, bleeding, draining, or not healing, see a doctor. A true fistula or sinus tract needs medical evaluation.

When Should You See A Doctor?

See a doctor if you notice any of the following:

• A new opening in the skin that does not heal within a few days
• Pain, redness, swelling, or warmth around the area
• Drainage of pus, blood, or fluid
• Recurring lumps or boils in the same location
• Scars that are changing in size or appearance
• Signs of infection like fever or chills

Most skin pits and pores are harmless. But a true hole that connects to deeper tissue is not something to ignore. Early evaluation can prevent complications and rule out conditions that need treatment.

Dermatologists can usually diagnose the cause by examining the skin. In some cases, a biopsy or imaging may be needed to see how deep a tract goes.