Scars after acne: best acne marks treatment

How to remove acne scars?

We will discuss why acne scars appear, what types of scars exist, and how to choose the right treatment. You will learn about the most effective procedures to reduce the visibility of scars. At the end of the video, I will tell you whether it is possible to reduce scars at home with cosmetic products and share a case from our practice on how we reduced scars for a client. Like this video, hit “subscribe,” and let's get started.

What are acne scars and why do they appear?

Acne scars. People suffer from this problem after acne due to skin inflammation and impaired healing. Why does this happen? If the inflammation is severe and pus-filled pimples damage the internal skin tissues, a scar forms that is different in structure from the rest of the skin. In the scar area, coarse-fiber collagen grows, blood and lymphatic vessels are deformed

Scars can also remain after improper acne treatment. For example, if a person did not seek help from a dermatologist, popped pimples with their hands, and did not follow proper skincare.

The cause of the scars is not as important. What matters for treatment is identifying the type of scars.

Types of scars

Most often, acne leaves atrophic or hypertrophic scars.

Atrophic scars appear as depressed areas of skin, like dimples. This is the most common type.

Atrophic scars, according to Jacob's classification, can be round, icepick, and boxcar. Round scars are the shallowest and easiest to treat. Boxcar scars are somewhat deeper but still quite treatable. The hardest to remove are icepick scars, which look like the letter "V" and their bottom lies deep in the dermis.

Hypertrophic scars are raised bumps that protrude above the skin surface, usually with a pink or burgundy hue.

Now, let's move on to the most interesting part. Let’s talk about the methods that can help reduce acne scars.

Collagen stimulation for scar reduction

The first method is collagen stimulation, mainly used for atrophic scars. This is an injectable procedure using Sculptra. Sculptra stimulates the production of your own collagen. Scar tissue starts to be replaced by new healthy tissue, which helps reduce the visibility of scars and improve skin texture. The procedure requires several sessions and combination with laser techniques.

Is laser resurfacing effective for acne scars?

Laser resurfacing is one of the most effective methods for reducing acne scars. In our practice, we use the ResurFX fractional laser. This is a non-ablative treatment that does not damage the skin surface.

Laser treatment selectively destroys scar tissue by creating microfractions of photothermolysis. These microfractions are also created in the surrounding tissue. As a result of these two processes, gradual skin remodeling occurs, smoothing the scar borders and raising its base.

The result of the fractional laser is smoother skin, improved texture, and rejuvenation. For small acne scars and in young age, significant improvement up to complete invisibility of scars can be achieved.

To enhance the result, we recommend combining this procedure with injectable skin hydration and chemical peels.

If the scars are very deep and cannot be fully smoothed, the final step can be filling the scar with hyaluronic acid-based filler.

Can RF microneedling reduce scars?

Another procedure used to reduce scars is RF microneedling. The result is achieved through two actions: micro-needling and radiofrequency energy. When the needles penetrate the skin, it receives microtrauma, and begins to produce new collagen. Heating and RF energy are also aimed at stimulating and improving skin texture. Results can be noticeable after a few sessions: scars become less visible, the skin evens out and looks healthier.

Post-acne spots

After mild acne, instead of scars, dark or burgundy spots may remain. We use IPL phototherapy to lighten post-acne spots. This method affects the pigment, breaking it down into small particles that gradually rise to the skin surface and exfoliate. The result is a more even and lighter skin tone.

Does retinol help with acne scars?

Many ask: “What cream or ointment can remove scars?” Our experience shows that creams for scars cannot remove them completely. The best they can do is slightly soften the scars. However, here is a tip to improve the condition of scarred skin at home: add a retinol cream to your routine. Active forms of vitamin A stimulate cell renewal, collagen, and elastin synthesis, increasing skin firmness and evening out its texture.

Again, using retinol will not completely eliminate scars but will help improve the texture and appearance of the skin.

When using retinol products, always protect your skin from UV rays by using SPF. I will leave links to effective retinol creams and SPF in the description of this video. Be sure to check them out and order.

Case

It's time to look at a case from our practice. Look at the photo we took at the first meeting with the client. We see a large number of acne scars that have a burgundy color, severe skin damage, and uneven texture. We started the journey to smooth skin with preparation, doing several sessions of hyaluronic acid injections. Then we moved on to the main treatment. We used two methods. For smoothing the texture, we used the ResurFX laser procedure, and for lightening the skin and reducing redness, IPL phototherapy. Ready to see the result we achieved?

This is how the skin looks after treatment. We see a reduction in scars, a smoother texture, and a lighter, more even skin tone.

If you have acne scars and want to get rid of them, take the first step: find a good specialist who will determine the type of scar and choose the treatment strategy. Now you know all the methods. Like this video and watch other videos on the Metodica channel. We have a lot of interesting information about skincare and effective methods for skin rejuvenation and treatment. See you soon!