What treatment should I get to get rid of acne scars and clogged pores? (Photos)

Acne scars need a combination approach for improvement. For the best results, one should target the acne scar type. As everyone has a unique pattern of acne scarring, the best solution is a tailored one. Typically you need fillers like bellafill and sculptra for atrophic indented type scars with or without subcision. Subcision for depressed tethered scars. Vascular lasers like yellow laser, aerolase, excel V or IPL for redness or thick scars. And lasers such as fraxel, erbium, co2 or fractional radiofrequency like venus viva, skinfinity, intensif microneedling RF for textural issues and superficial scarring. Deep ice pick scars and narrow box car scars are best treated with TCA CROSS and punch excision. All lasers are combined with microneedling and PRP to get even better results and improve healing times. The majority of patients will have a collection of different scar types, and hence a tailored treatment plan is needed by an expert physician. It is never about the laser or product that gives the results, its about the expert behind the equipment that gets you the outcome. Scars cannot be cured and will need life-long treatments to maintain and build on the results. Best, Dr. Emer.

Our office has many different treatments for acne scars depending on the depth of atrophy or hypertrophy. Acne 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 acne 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 acne scars and indented acne 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 acne 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

From  your photos, it appears that your acne is still active. In addition to the salicylic acid, adding a retinoid and benzoyl peroxide to treat your clogged pores and active acne should be helpful. Most of your scars are superficial and are pits and narrow box cars. TCA cross and microneedle radiofrequency should improve the scars. A fractionated laser can be utilized at a later time. Pretreatment with an oral antibiotic will help to control the acne.  Find an acne scar expert. Ask to see photos.Jeff Rapaport MDCore Aesthetic - Realself Top 500

Thank you for your question! We use our Cortex laser, also known as CO2, combined with our Erbium Yag laser to treat acne scarring. We generally achieve moderate to exceptional results with this procedure. For some patients that have very deep acne scarring, an additional CO2 treatment approximately a year after the first one might be recommended for optimal results. This treatment is typically recommended in the fall or winter since sun exposure before and after the treatment can cause the skin to burn. We also don't recommend this procedure on patients who have active acne as lasers can aggravate and possibly worsen the break out. I highly recommend seeing a provider with an extensive amount of experience with the Cortex laser. 

The absolute best and considered gold standard treatment for acne scars,  is full ablative CO2 laser treatments.  These are not fractional treatments  which only treat a certain percentage of the skin, but are full 100%  skin treatments.  No specific treatment  can completely get rid of acne scars, but this treatment is the absolute best for reducing the appearance and size of acne scars.
As for clogged pores,, I highly recommend the regular use of Retin-A..  Some specific chemical acne peelss will also help.
I hope this helps, Dr. Bob

Thank you for your photos. 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. The Aerolase laser aims laser technology into both the outer and inner layers of your skin. As it penetrates the deep layers of your dermis, it helps to combat bacteria and any other infections. It also will help reduce oil, swelling, and inflammation. I recommend getting a in person consultation with a board-certified dermatologist.

As above, see the real experts at NSC or the National Skin Centre for care by dermatologist. Singapore, like Brisbane- Queensland, Australia has no laws regarding lasers and doctors practicing 'aesthetics'. You have a medical condition - Grade 4 B scars, see a Specialist. 
Acne scar revision comprises of many specialised procedures. For the best results, one should target the acne scar type with appropriate treatments METHODS. Using one or two devices is not optimal. As everyone has a unique pattern of acne scarring, the best solution is a tailored one. Remember, scar revision is a medical procedure that is technical to perform. It is not dependent on the clinic, branch, machine, or laser but by the skill of your dermatologist of plastic surgeon. 



Take for example deep ice pick scars, and narrow box car scars. These are best treated with TCA CROSS and focused angled Co2 fractional laser in low density. 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 graft, 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. 



In the vast majority of patients, different patterns of acne scars will be present. Monomorphic acne scarring (scars of the safe subtype) are extremely rare. 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 combinations that yields the best results. It is never about the device, it is about the specialist behind the equipment that will deliver the best outcomes. 

Global leaders in acne scar revision will always use manual methods to revise scars, and employ lasers and energy devices as instruments to assist. All the best, Dr Davin Lim. Acne scar dermatologist specialist. Brisbane, Australia.