If acne scars bother you, safe and effective treatment is available. Treatment can diminish acne scars that cause depressions in the skin. Treatment can also safely reduce raised acne scars. Many treatments are available.
Treatments include laser treatments, minor skin surgeries, chemical peels, and fillers. A dermatologist or a dermatologic surgeon can perform these treatments in a medical office.
As we age, acne scars often become more noticeable because our skin loses collagen.The key to effective treatment is to select the best one for each scar type. For example, a patient who has some deep scars may benefit from getting a filler, which adds volume to the skin. This may be followed by laser treatments.
Before getting treatment for acne scars, it is important to clear your acne. New acne breakouts can lead to new acne scars. Having acne also means that your skin is inflamed. Inflammation reduces the effectiveness of treatment for acne scars.
To obtain the best results, a dermatologist first examines your skin. After the exam, some patients are surprised to learn that their acne scars are actually a different skin problem.
What you see on your skin varies with the types of acne scars you have. Your dermatologist will talk about two types of acne scars:
Depressed: Most acne scars cause depressions or pits in the skin.
Depressed scars usually form on the face. A dermatologist may refer to these scars as “atrophic” (a-tro-fic) scars or use the name of the specific depressed scar:
- Boxcar
- Icepick
- Rolling
Raised: These acne scars are more common on the back and chest. The medical term for a raised scar is “hypertrophic.”