Margaret Weiss, MD

We have treated many African-Americans for acne scarring.  For "hole"  type scars, a treatment called punch-grafting can work very well.  When there are multipe areas, we usually do one or two first to see how a patient's skin heals.  We typically use the Fraxel Restore laser for overall resurfacing, and usually do a test area first to check for hyperpigmentation.  That is always a risk with African-American skin.  For depressed scars that aren't "holes", a filler or subcision can be done without significant risk of pigment change.  It is important to see a physician who has experience with African-American skin.