Pimple Scar Treatment & Skin Repair Solutions

Acne Scars: What We Treat and How

Most people with acne scars have depressed, or sunken, scars, such as ice pick, boxcar and rolling scars, that leave skin rough and uneven. Raised scars, from too much collagen as skin heals, need different treatment, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).

Scar treatment typically starts once breakouts are under control, because stopping acne helps prevent new scars. For depressed scars, the AAD lists procedures that include chemical peels, microneedling and laser resurfacing. Our microneedling page names Skin Stylus, and the SkinStylus SteriLock MicroSystem is FDA-cleared to improve the appearance of facial acne scars in adults 22 and older with Fitzpatrick skin types I to III, so ask which device will be used for you.

At Physician’s Plan, microneedling and chemical peels can be booked at our Summerville, Mount Pleasant, Florence and Rock Hill clinics in South Carolina and our Hickory and Huntersville clinics in North Carolina. Results may vary. The FDA notes that microneedling may not be suitable for some people, including anyone who is taking isotretinoin or has taken it in the past six months, has an active skin infection or a cold sore outbreak, or is pregnant or breastfeeding; in darker skin types it carries a risk of skin darkening or lightening, and some authorized devices were not studied in darker skin.

Is a dark mark after a breakout a scar?

Usually not. A flat mark left after acne clears, often red or pink on lighter skin and brown on medium or darker skin, is usually post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation rather than a scar, and the AAD notes that it usually fades over time.

Do acne scars go away on their own?

Rarely. The AAD says acne scars can fade but rarely go away completely on their own. Not every breakout leaves a scar; deep, painful acne and picking, popping or squeezing breakouts raise the risk.

What are the risks of microneedling?

The FDA lists common risks such as redness, dryness, peeling, bruising, bleeding and crusting, and less common ones such as pigment changes, cold sore reactivation and infection; some side effects may be permanent. Tell your provider about every acne treatment you use now or have used in the past two years: the AAD notes that starting some scar treatments while using, or soon after stopping, certain acne medications can cause unwanted side effects.