Will Microdermabrasion Remove Acne Scars?

Thanks for your question. Acne scarring comes in two varieties: "rolling" hills and valley type scarring, and "icepick" deep scarring. In addition, most people don't get either of these scarring types, but rather turn dark (hyperpigment) at the site of the pimple. This hyperpigmentation is NOT scarring unless there is an associated depression, dimple, or "icepick" in the skin. A good way to see this is if you have a tangential light shining off the surface of... more

If your red marks are not depressed, they are not scars, just redness left over from acne and they will fade with time. Microdermabrasion will not help. Intense pulsed light treatments can help the redness fade more quickly. Protect your skin from the sun. If your red marks are depressed, then you do have some scarring. If they are very mild, aggressive microdermabrasion may help but a laser treatment such as Fraxel would be more effective. more

Microdermabrasion will help reduce active acne and inflammatory cysts that are clogged, but will likely not improve acne scars.  Microdermabrasion should be used in conjunction with deeper treatments for acne scars.