ACNE SCAR TREATMENT OPTIONS :

• Teen Acne Facial | Adult Acne Facial

• Skin Rejuvenation / IPL Treatments

• LED Blue Light Therapy

• Microneedling

• Skin Tightening

• Microdermabrasion

• Chemical Peel

POST TREATMENT CARE OPTIONS :

• Hydropeptide Skincare

ABOUT ACNE SCAR TREATMENTS

Acne scars are usually the result of inflamed blemishes caused by skin pores engorged with excess oil, dead skin cells and bacteria. The pore swells, causing a break in the follicle wall. Shallow lesions are usually minor and heal quickly. But if there is a deep break in the wall of the pore, infected material can spill out into surrounding tissue, creating deeper lesions. The skin attempts to repair these lesions by forming new collagen fibers. These repairs usually aren't as smooth and flawless as the original skin.

Safe and effective treatment for acne scars begins with a consultation. During the consultation, your skin expert will examine your skin, playing close attention to your scars. They will also ask you some essential questions before deciding on an appropriate treatment.

Questions to ask yourself

To get the most from your consultation, many people find it helpful to answer the following questions before meeting with a skin expert. Treatment is not for everyone. Some people feel that the scars are not so bad. Others feel that the scars affect their everyday life.

We often recommend treatment when someone answers “yes” to one or more of the following questions:

• Do I often wish that I could get rid of my acne scars?

• Do I feel that my scars limit my opportunities to date, get a job, advance my career, or perform well in school?

• Am I less social now than before I had acne scars?

If you and your Skin Expert believe that treatment is right for you, a treatment plan tailored to your needs will be created. In creating this plan, your Skin Expert will consider many things including scar types and where the scars appear on your body.

To obtain the best results, your Skin Expert may recommend more than one treatment. This is especially true in situations when not all scarring is the same. Your dermatologist relies on in-depth medical knowledge to determine which treatments are best for you. You can expect for all decisions to be backed up with reasoning and a thorough explanation as to why each treatment is being recommended.

Resurfacing procedures

When a patient wants to diminish the appearance of widespread acne scarring, a Skin Expert may recommend a variety of different resurfacing procedures. Resurfacing removes layers of skin, which allows the body to produce new skin cells.

Our Skin Experts use the following resurfacing procedures to treat depressed acne scars: 

• Chemical Peeling

• Microdermabrasion

Resurfacing works well for treating acne scars that are nearly flat (not too deep). Even microdermabrasion, which removes the top layers of skin, cannot effectively treat deep acne scars.

Best for: Depressed acne scars that are not deep. Useful for contouring scar edges to make scars less noticeable. Deep scars often require skin surgery and resurfacing.

Skin tightening

This is a newer treatment and tends to be more affordable. This treatment is safe for all skin colors.

Dermatologists often use a technology called radiofrequency to tighten the skin. As the skin tightens, depressed acne scars become less noticeable. 

Radiofrequency requires repeat appointments. Most patients return once a month for four months. After a radiofrequency treatment, many patients say they feel a burning sensation for about one hour and their skin has a pinkish color for two to three days. 

Radiofrequency treatments require some at-home care. For at least one week after each treatment, you will need to apply sunscreen every morning and a moisturizing cream at night. Dermatologists recommend wearing a sunscreen that offers UVA/UVB protection, an SPF of 30 or greater, and water resistance.

Best for: Depressed acne scars. Sometimes, skin tightening effectively treats deep icepick and boxcar scars.  

Collagen-induction therapy (Microneedling)

Also known as “needling” or “microneedling,” this treatment encourages your body to make more collagen. 

To perform this procedure, your skin expert will move a sterile, handheld needle-studded roller across the depressed acne scars. This punctures your skin. As your skin heals, it produces collagen. You can expect to see a difference after nine months. Most people, however, notice gradual changes before nine months. Many patients require between three and six treatments and return every two to six weeks for a treatment. After each treatment, you may have some swelling and possibly bruising. These side effects usually clear within four to five days.

You will need to follow a skin care plan while undergoing treatment. Research shows that this is a safe treatment for people of all skin colors.

Best for: Widespread depressed acne scars. Not a treatment for raised acne scars, which form when the body produces too much collagen. 

Laser therapy

Lasers and other light treatments can treat raised scars safely and effectively. Treatment with a pulsed dye laser (PDL) can help reduce the itch and pain, diminish color, and flatten a raised scar. For people with lighter skin, intense pulsed light (IPL) also may be a treatment option.

Best for: All types of acne scars