Can microneedling make papular acne scars worse? (Photo)

Our office has many different treatments for scars depending on the depth of atrophy or hypertrophy. Scars require a combination approach using our HI DEF protocol which uses a combination of lasers, topical scar modulation, and RF treatments to pixelate scars, improve contour, reduce hyperpigmentation, and improve the visibility of the scars so that they are no longer visible in ambient light. Everyone has a unique pattern of scarring and we employ our HIDEF technique to improve texture, color, contour, and topography. We often use a combination of treatments that begin with a careful examination to examine the micro texturing of the acne scars. Atrophic scars and indented scars can benefit from injectable fillers such as Radiesse, Sculptra, and Restylane with or without subcision to remove tethered scars and atrophic depression. Hyper-redness in scars can be improved with V beam laser, Excel V, BBL, IPL, and Venus RF to improve the redness and reduce the visibility of deep scars. Fractional Thulium laser and clear & brilliant can also reduce the inflammation and redness of the scar when combined with topical therapy. Fractional lasers such as Fraxel, erbium, and CO2 laser can be combined with radio frequency and also fractional RF to improve textual issues and microtopography. Subcision and TCA cross are also used for deep ice pick scars and narrow valley scars in order to improve the micro texture. Above all, our combination approach with our clinical nurses and board-certified plastic surgeons can improve the quality of your skin by using at home Melarase creams combined with PRP treatments in our office to improve your skin quality and tone. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with an experienced team of experts in order to reduce your scarring.

Finally, hyperpigmentation of scars can be improved with at-home Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads to help reduce active PIH and melanin deposition.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

As an addendum to your question posed the other day, I would suggest that you consider a trial of intralesional FU combined with triamcinolone either alone or combination with scalpel sculpting to flatten them flush with the surrounding normal skin. It would be important to know the concentration of the steroids used in the past unsuccessfully, since too a low concentration may have been chosen to be effective. I have over two decades of experience with medical microneedling, so I can comfortably say that I would be cautious about considering medical microneedling in this case precisely because this procedure, properly performed, is aimed at increasing collagen and elastic fiber synthesis and could potentially aggravate the situation. Make sure that you consult with a board certified aesthetic physician before proceeding. Best of luck.

I don’t generally think microneedling will help these scars from the photos they you gave. You probably need a stronger concentration of steroid solution injected into the individual scars. Please consult an expert in acne scars to help you.   Best, Dr. Green

Agree with Dr Michele Green, steroid injections or delivery with the drip technique. 3-5 sessions over 6 months should markedly improve things. The ideal treatment for acne scars will depend on the morphology of individual scars. For example, rolling scars are best treated with subcision, atrophic scars with fillers, pick-ice pick scars with TCA or Phenol CROSS/ Paint, box-scar scars with fractional laser/ modified TCA/ phenol chemical peels, hypertrophic scars with steroid injections/modulated fractional delivery. 
Energy devices such as lasers, microneedling RF and bipolar radiofrequency are other methods to treat ‘general’ scar types. For example devices can improve rolling-tethered scars as well as ‘deep - superficial scars’ such as broad ice-pick scars and broad box-car scars. Devices should be viewed as a method of scar revision, and rarely as a sole modality. Exceptions do apply- for example in patients with predominantly shallow/broad box-car scars and or superficial pits. 
Another factor that will determine the ideal combination of treatment is the skin type of patients. Skin typing used to determine the ‘skin colour’ of patients. Darker skin patients will require modifications to treatment parameters. This includes a lower percentage of chemical peels, conservative protocols for lasers and energy devices and in some cases pre and post treatment of skin to reduce but not eliminate the chances of PIH- post inflammatory hyperpigmentation- skin darkening. 
The very first step in scar revision is to accurately determine the subset of scars you have. This is best done with a real time examination. Factors such as animation (rather than static photographs) are frequently used to determine the amount of ‘deep scarring’ /anchored scars or tethering. Palpation or touch is also extremely important to determine the presence of dermal and subdermal fibrosis. Scars that have altered ‘texture’ either hard or soft (atrophy) are more challenging to treat compared to scars with ‘normal’ texture. In some cases the use of angled lighting can be employed to accurately map scar types. 
My answers given in the context of this question is a general plan given the limited information. For an accurate guide, one has to take into consideration factors such as animation, touch, feel, real time examination and most importantly subjective measures, namely patient expectations. A real time consult with a procedural dermatologist or plastic surgeon is required for the best accuracy- diagnosis. 
All the best, Dr Davin S. Lim, Dermatologist. Brisbane. Australia.