Acne Scar Treatment

What causes acne scars?

Acne is a common skin condition that causes pimples to develop because of pores clogged with excess oil and dead skin cells.

Acne scars can form as your skin heals after a breakout. There are two types of acne scars that can develop:

Atrophic scars

Atrophic scars or depressed scars occur when your body doesn’t produce enough collagen during the wound-healing process. These scars sit below the surface of your skin and can be shallow or deep.

Atrophic scars typically develop on your face.

Hypertrophic scars

Hypertrophic scars or raised scars appear above the surface of your skin. These scars develop when your body produces too much collagen when your skin is healing.

Hypertrophic scars typically develop on your back and chest.

In addition to scars, acne breakouts can also cause skin discoloration and hyperpigmentation. You might see brown, red, or purple marks in areas after pimples heal. These marks typically fade away over time but might benefit from treatments that minimize their appearance.

When should I seek treatment for acne scars?

Acne scars aren’t harmful to your health, but they can affect how you feel about your skin’s appearance.

If you feel self-conscious about visible acne scars on your face or body, schedule a skin evaluation with the team at Dermatology and Aesthetics Center of Utah. They can discuss your goals and expectations for treatment to determine which therapy is right for you.

How are acne scars treated?

The team at Dermatology and Aesthetics Center of Utah customizes a treatment plan to address the location and severity of your acne scars. They often use a combination of therapies to achieve the best results.

The acne scar therapies might include:

Microneedling

Microneedling is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a special roller device to create micro-wounds in your skin. That triggers your body’s natural healing response and allows more blood flow to the treatment area.

Your body also produces more collagen to heal your skin. Collagen plumps and firms your skin, reducing the appearance of atrophic scars.

Chemical peels

Chemical peels use a medically safe chemical agent to gently peel away the surface layers of your skin. That allows the fresh, healthy skin below to shine through, minimizing the appearance of both atrophic and hypertrophic acne scars, wrinkles, and fine lines.

You can also treat acne discoloration and hyperpigmentation with a chemical peel. The team at Dermatology and Aesthetics Center of Utah can perform chemical peels at different depths to treat even severe, deep-set scars in your skin.

Laser therapy

Laser therapy uses light energy to stimulate the natural healing of your skin. The team uses the Sciton® laser system to deliver laser energy to scarred skin to trigger an increase in collagen production. 

Lasers can also break up hypertrophic scar tissue to smooth out your complexion and treat areas of discoloration and hyperpigmentation.

Photofacials

Photofacials use ultraviolet (UV) light to stimulate changes deep within your skin. That prompts your body to produce more collagen to fill in depressed scars and minimize the appearance of raised scars.

Schedule an acne scar consultation online or by calling Dermatology and Aesthetics Center of Utah today.