What treatment is best for acne scars? (Photo)

Fractional laser is an amazing and highly effective treatment in our office. We use the laser treatment to help with acne scars, large pores, fine wrinkles, tissue collagen loss, scars, sebaceous hyperplasia, active acne, and for brightening dark pigmentation. Although there are very strong fractional lasers such as CO2 laser, we use lighter treatments for corrective skincare and maintenance of results. Our Thulium fractional laser, clear and brilliant laser, and Ultra Thulium laser are excellent options in our clinic. We also perform CO2 fractional and erbium depending on skin tone and tolerance for downtime. Patients do have to use a Melarase cream before and after treatment to help further reduce pigmentation after laser. Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads can seriously improve surface sun damage and UV related pigmentation. Dark spots can improve with these treatments. I recommend fractional laser for incisional scars as well, especially after plastic surgery.
Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

​Acne requires a combination approach to get long-term improvement. I recommend a combination of Cosmelan, salt facials, peels, lasers, microneedling with PRP, blue light, radiofrequency and isotretinoin. I suggest getting a formal evaluation with an expert. Best, Dr. Emer​

Hello and thank you for your question and photo!  Acne scarring is difficult to treat, but can be dramatically improved.  Assuming these are previous acne scars and your acne is now improved, we would recommend a multi treatment plan for you.  I would advise a consultation with a board certified provider who is an expert in the treatment of acne scarring.  Depending on the type of scar, the plan of care will differ slightly.  Some of the treatment plans will include ResurFx, microneedling with PRP or Sculptra, chemical peels, products and also fillers.  Once your skin has been properly assessed, your board certified provider will be able to start a plan made specifically for your skin type and your scarring.  I hope this information helps and best of luck to you!

Thank you for your photo. You can treat acne scars by doing a series of treatments via LightPodNeo Aerolase laser or PicoSure laser. The PicoSure laser is FDA-approved and is gentle on your skin, with minimal discomfort or downtime after treatments. PicoSure works by sending ultra-short pulses of laser energy into the outer and inner skin layers. I recommend getting a in person consultation with a board-certified dermatologist.

Acne scars need various approaches. I recommend fractional CO2 laser and microneedling using  PRP. You will need various sessions. Prescription Retin A and good quality skin care regime will help your skin along with vitamins taken by mouth to help your collagen production. Fraxel can help but I prefer the above mentioned treatments. 

Yes, both will help but they are NOT the ideal treatments, TCA CROSS is far more effective than any laser for the treatment of ice pick, pick scars, linear narrow based box car scars, and narrow box scars. TCA is useful for certain types of enlarged pores. The best Doctors for your job include Dr Rapaport and Dr Novick. These specialist prefer manual scar revision augmented with devices, and like myself approach scars in a methodical manner and not place you on a generic 'acne scar revision program'. Bespoke treatments based upon your scar type will give you the best results. 
Acne scar revision comprises of specialised procedures. For the best results, one should target the acne scar type with ideal treatments METHODS. Using one device is not optimal. As everyone has a unique pattern of acne scarring, the best solution is a tailored one.  The web reference below will take you to a resource to help you understand acne scar revision at a specialist level. I embedded all the videos in one page to help.
As an example deep ice pick scars, and narrow box car scars are best treated with TCA CROSS. Deep narrow scars respond better to this treatment than even the most expensive lasers. On the flip side, rolling, and atrophic acne scars can improve with fractional devices such as Fraxel, fractional lasers, ProFractional erbium lasers, Infiini –Intensif –Intracel radiofrequency microneedling. Atrophic scars (depressions) can be treated with either fat grafts, PRP or dermal fillers. Tethered and anchored scars are best treated with surgical techniques such as subcision. Other surgical techniques that I use include punch elevation, surgical elevation, punch excision and traditional excision for focal scars. Early and very mild acne scars respond well to eMatrix and non-energy microneedling, as well as vascular lasers. Skin colour changes such as PIH or dark marks respond best to sun protection, creams, and Q switch lasers in the nano and pico pulse durations.

The majority of patients will have a collection of different scar types, and hence a tailored treatment METHOD will be best. Careful examination, especially under angled lighting with scar mapping will give you an understanding of what are the best options for your scars. Additionally tactile examination namely touch will give me an understanding of the amount of subdermal fibrosis, as special equipment is needed for this sub-set of acne scars.  In the majority of patients its finding the correct combination that give you best results, and everyone is unique! It is never about the device, its about the specialist behind the equipment that will deliver the best outcomes. All the best, Dr Davin Lim. Acne scar dermatologist specialist. Brisbane, Australia.