5 Ways to Reduce the Appearance of Acne Scars

Acne scars take a toll on your appearance and confidence, especially when they continue past adolescent years. Eliminating these scars is the best way to restore your complexion for a more youthful look.

Thanks to modern technology, many options are available to help you finally diminish the look of the scars on your face. 

At The Dermatology Center of Worcester, our team has the tools and knowledge to help you achieve perfect skin. Dr. Camille I. Roberts is our expert, board-certified dermatologist who offers several treatments to help you reduce the appearance of acne scars.

The facts on acne

Acne is a skin condition that typically happens in your teen years due to hormone changes. You get a breakout when hair follicles become clogged with dirt, causing redness and inflammation.

There are different types of acne, including whiteheads, blackheads, and deep cysts. Although acne usually goes away at some point, scarring from acne isn’t always preventable, even when you’re careful. However, you can reduce your risk of acne scars by leaving your acne alone and not picking or popping pimples or cysts.

Types of acne scars

Believe it or not, there are different forms of scars that acne leaves behind. Each type of scar may require another treatment to reduce its appearance. The primary types of acne scarring include:

Atrophic

This form of scarring is the most prevalent on the skin of your face. There are three main types of atrophic scars — rolling scars, icepick scars, and boxcar scars.

Atrophic scars occur when your body doesn’t produce enough collagen while your skin is healing from acne. This causes indentations in your skin that stick around even after the acne is gone.

Hypertrophic

Hypertrophic acne scars happen when your body creates too much collagen as your skin is healing. They’re more common on your chest and back than your face.

Hypertrophic scars are raised scars that sit above the rest of your skin.

Keloids

Keloid scarring is like hypertrophic scars but thicker and more pronounced. These scars may have discoloration and can itch or be painful.

Five ways you can hide your acne scars

You can find options if you’re tired of looking in the mirror and seeing unsightly scarring. Our team offers several dermatologic treatments to help you achieve the skin you’ve been dreaming of. A few of the treatments we provide for scarring include:

1. Fillers

Dermal fillers are products injected into your skin to reduce the appearance of atrophic acne scars. There are many different forms of fillers, including hyaluronic acid fillers and collagen-based fillers.

The type of filler needed depends on your type of acne scarring and the severity of the scars.

2. Microneedling

In this treatment, Dr. Roberts uses tiny little needles to penetrate your skin and stimulate your body to produce collagen — minimizing atrophic scars with healthy skin.

3. Laser skin resurfacing

Laser skin resurfacing has a similar effect on your skin as chemical peels and dermabrasion but without the chemicals. Dr. Roberts uses a laser to get rid of the top layer of your skin, allowing healthier skin cells to appear and reducing the appearance of scars.

4. Dermabrasion

This type of treatment is similar to microdermabrasion and uses specialized tools that help Dr. Roberts exfoliate your skin to reduce the appearance of acne scars.

Dermabrasion is best for atrophic scars closer to the skin’s surface. However, it may also help reduce the appearance of deeper scarring in your skin.

5. Chemical peel

When you have a chemical peel, Dr. Roberts applies a type of chemical to the acne scars, eliminating the top layer of your skin, which helps reduce the appearance of scars, especially those that are deep.

You can have one deep chemical peel and maintain your results through mild to moderate chemical peels.

Ultimately, Dr. Roberts helps you decide what type of skin treatment is best for your skin. Some treatments may take more than one session, while others can last for months to years.

If you’re ready to rid your face of unappealing acne scars, call our office in Worcester, Massachusetts, at 508-452-2702 for a consultation today or request an appointment with Dr. Roberts on our website.

We offer Full body skin checks and offer treatment for acne, acne scars, and more. Call us to book your appointment today.