The Most Effective Acne Scar Treatments: What Really Works?

Types of Acne Scars & Why They Matter in Treatment Choice

As you read earlier, there are 2 major types of acne scars—atrophic scars and hypertrophic scars. Knowing the type of scar you have will help you choose the right treatment approach.

• Atrophic Scars: These scars are depressions in the skin. They are caused by incomplete healing of the depression left by inflammation of acne. These scars go to different depths in the dermis, which will determine how the treatment of these scars goes.

• Ice Pick Scars: These are some of the most common atrophic acne scars. They are small and form deep holes in the skin. These scars are v-shaped. They are deeper than they are wide. They look like deep pores.

• Boxcar Scars: These scars have wider depressions with a flat base. They have defined edges. These round or oval-shaped depressions are usually wider than they are deep.

• Rolling Scars: These scars are broad with no defined borders. They are uneven and smooth out when stretched.

• Hypertrophic and Keloid Scars: These scars are caused by excessive formation of collagen. The scars are raised due to excessive collagen formation. Hypertrophic scars are found to be at the exact point of the scar. Keloid scars exceed the scar points.

• Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation: These are dark spots that are left behind after acne heals. They are not scars, but they could be mistaken for scars. They don’t affect skin texture. Their influence is on the skin surface.  Hyperpigmentations affect the skin colour, while acne scars affect texture.  Optical illusions can make dark spots appear indented. 

The deeper the acne scar, the more the need for collagen-stimulating treatment. In atrophic acne scars, this will fill up the depression, leveling out the skin.

We must consider the skin type when choosing a treatment option. The treatment options for acne scars affect the skin types 1-6 differently. Our experts will determine your skin type to provide you with specialized treatments for the best results!

Best Non-Surgical Acne Scar Treatments & How They Work

The non-surgical treatment of acne scars is a popular choice in the US for several reasons. Here are a few:

• Non-invasive: Non-invasive treatments have little or no downtime. It means you can get back to your daily activities soon!

• Less Expensive: The treatment options are generally cheaper than the surgical alternatives.

• Natural Results: Non-surgical acne scar treatments usually enhance your skin and gradually treat the scars. This is more likely to give a natural-looking result without a surgical excision scar. 

• Less Downtime: Non-surgical procedures usually have less downtime than surgical excision procedures. 

Other treatment methods are available, such as fillers, which will fill the depression while still stimulating collagen formation. Combining treatments will produce the most effective results.

Laser Resurfacing: Precision Treatment for Acne Scars

Laser resurfacing involves using light energy to improve skin tone and texture. This focused light energy targets layers of the skin and stimulates healing. This will treat the acne scars and make your skin smoother!

Laser resurfacing is done with 2 types of devices:

• Ablative Laser: It uses energy beams to vaporize skin cells. This triggers collagenogenesis. As this injury to the skin heals, the tone and texture of the skin improves remarkably.

• Non-Ablative Laser: This is not as harsh as the ablative method as it heats the skin to the point of tightening but does not kill the cells. Hence, it stimulates collagen formation but with more subtle results. It has less recovery time and works well with a variety of other treatments.

Laser Genesis is a YAG-based, non-ablative laser therapy. It uses light and heat energy to treat scars. It heats the dermis gently, causing collagenogenesis, as well has reducing pigmentations and redness from acne. This heals the scars and restores skin tone and texture.

ResurFx, a Stellar M22 laser, has more wavelengths than laser genesis. This means it is more versatile in treating skin conditions. It also can stack laser energy. It is a great option for darker skin tones. 

While Laser genesis is great for colagenogenesis, ResurFX works well with resurfacing!

It produces quicker results than Laser Genesis. However, it has a small 1-2 day downtime compared to Laser Genesis, which has none.

Microneedling & RF Microneedling: Boosting Collagen for Scar Healing

Microneedling is a great treatment option for acne scars. It causes microtrauma to the skin. This triggers the wound healing response which leads to collagen induction and clearing of the acne scars.

Microneedling can be combined with radiofrequency energy for skin remodeling. This is done with a device called Morpheus8. Not only do the microneedles trigger collagenogenesis via microinjuries, but the RF energy also heats the dermis, further stimulating collagen formation.

With Morpheus 8, heat energy can be dialed up and down to penetrate from superficial to deep layers into the dermis to treat deeper scars. This will ensure that acne scars are properly cleared and your confidence is restored.

Combining Microneedling or Morpheus 8 with PRP, PRF, or Exosome therapy will produce the best results!

Dermal Fillers: Instant Volume Restoration for Depressed Scars

Dermal fillers are a good option for treating atrophic acne scars. Not only do they lift the depressions caused by acne, but they also trigger collagen formation. These will cumulatively treat the acne scars and restore an even skin texture.

Dermal fillers provide immediate scar correction by filling the depression as well as a more long-term effect by collagenogenesis.

Some common filler groups include

• Hyaluronic acid fillers- Juvederm, Restylane, Belotero
• Calcium Hydroxyapatitie fillers- Radiesse
• Poly-L-lactic acid- Sculptra

Both Hyaluronic acid and collagen-stimulating fillers work well, depending on the type of atrophic scar being treated.

PRP and PRF Therapy & Chemical Peels: Natural Healing for Acne Scars

Platelet Rich Plasma and platelet-rich fibrin are injections formed from your own blood. These autologous injections are great for restoring skin tone and texture. They contain certain growth factors and hormones helpful in speeding up healing.

PRF injections are different than PRP in that they have fibrin to hold on to the platelets longer for more effect. They work best in combination with microneedling. They produce immediate results and also have long-term effects on the scars. 

Chemical peels can also help with fading hyperpigmentation and mild acne scars.

These peels remove the outer layer of the skin. This triggers the formation of new skin. The new skin is usually smoother and has a more even tone.

Medium-depth peels, like VI Peel, are a great option for treating acne scars. They remove the outer skin layer and stimulate the remodeling of the skin in that region.

They are a good option for light or dark skinned patients.

The Path to Clearer, Smoother Skin

While acne scars are treatable, finding the right acne scar treatment for you can be challenging. You will need expert guidance in choosing the right option.

At Cosmetic Injectables Center Medspa, our experts will provide personalized consultations. In this session, they will guide you toward the right treatment choice for your acne scar and skin type.

Schedule an appointment with one of our experts and get a proper assessment and treatment plan that’s best suited for you.