Treating acne scars
Before discussing treatments, it is important for patients to understand that treatments improve acne scars, rather than making them disappear completely.
We will give you a list of treatments proven effective in minimizing acne scars.
During treatment, patients will usually need to be placed on an anti-acne skin care home regime of both prescription medications, and Melanopeel® skin care. With all acne scar treatments, rolling scars tend to produce the best results.
Click here to read Acne Scars Part 1: Types, Causes & Prevention
Many acne scar treatments will rely upon producing healthy collagen to plump out the skin, and fill in the scars. This occurs by the creation of a controlled injury deep within the skin. The result is that the skin is prompted to produce more healthy organized collagen.
Because depressed acne scar treatment requires the stimulation of multiple groups of cells, your Melanopeel® physician adopts a multi-treatment approach, and combines technologies for best results.
Let’s look at treatments:
Medical Microneedling
This treatment is without a doubt one of the most effective acne scar treatments. Using the MelanoPen™ Fractional Microneedle Device, your physician can produce up to a 70% improvement in the appearance of rolling scars.
This treatment is highly effective at producing new collagen.
Microneedling is one of the few aesthetic treatments that truly harmonizes the cellular function & communication of fibroblasts, keratinocytes and melanocytes.
Dr. Desmer Destang
Medical micro-needling is different to the cosmetic home treatments in that the needles penetrate to a greater depth (up to 3 mm), bleeding occurs, and prescription topical anesthesia is necessary.
This treatment is also safe for all skin colors.
Home cosmetic microneedling
This home treatment in invaluable to patients. The home Melanorollers are at a controlled depth therefore with little risk of skin damage. Many patients experience improvements in both current and future acne breakouts, in addition to improvement in skin texture, tone and color. This again, is safe for all skin colors, and can be made more effective with microneedling serums.
Subcision surgery
This specialized surgical technique detaches the tethering of tough scar tissue from the underlying skin layers. This frees the scar from the deeper layers of the skin and makes it look better. This is safe for all skin colors, and can be performed by your trained aesthetic practitioner.
Chemical peels (Mandelic Acid / TCA / Salicylic Acids)
These peels are anti-bacterial, will also control oil production. Not only can they change the skin texture, but also skin tone and skin color. Deeper peels incorporating TCA will produce the more dramatic results. This used in combination with medical microneedling can produce exceptional results. Mandelic acid peel blends are safe for all skin colors, but specialized training is highly recommended when using advanced peels such as TCA.
CROSS (Chemical Reconstruction of Skin Scars) TCA technique (for lighter skin colors)
In this technique very concentrated TCA is used. The tip of a sharp wooden stick is dipped into the TCA, and spot treated into the scar. This technique can be used for deeper scars which are notoriously difficult to treat. TCA should be used with extreme caution on darker ethnic skintypes.
Dermal fillers and fat transfer
These materials are best for shallower scars, and can fill in the depressions. Treatments will have to be repeated when the substances are absorbed by the body in 1-2 years.
Fractional and ablative lasers ( for lighter skin colors )
Lasers such as Fraxel®, CO2 lasers and Erbium Yag lasers can produce controlled injuries in the skin and induce collagen formation. Laser treatments should be performed with caution on darker Fitzpatrick types.
Punch excision with skin grafting
This surgical technique is essentially a technique where skin tissue in the depressed scar region is punched out with a small biopsy punch. The tissue is replaced in the area of the scar depression, but at a higher raised level. This is a specialized surgical technique.
Microdermabrasion
This very superficial technique should be used as a supportive treatment for your deeper procedures. Microdermabrasion removes only a thin outer layer of the skin.
Want to learn more about the types & causes of acne scars? Click here.
