What Treatments are Available for Acne Scars?

After your acne breakouts fade, you can be left with scars that make you feel self-conscious. If you have acne scars, you have several treatment options that can help. With a customized treatment plan from Dr. Langdon and his team, you can smooth out your uneven skin and reduce the appearance of acne scars. 

What Causes Acne Scars?

Almost everyone experiences at least a few acne breakouts, often during puberty. Some people escape these breakouts with no lasting effects, but others have more severe acne that can cause acne scars. If you have inflamed or deep cystic acne, you have a higher chance of developing scars. However, each person’s skin is different, and your skin may respond with a scar when someone else’s does not.

*Individual Results May Vary

What Treatments are Available for Acne Scars?

At the Langdon Center, we offer two laser treatments and several other options for correcting your acne scars. Laser treatments often provide excellent results for people with mild to significant acne scarring. 

Fraxel® Laser for Acne Scars

The Fraxel® laser works by using pulses of laser energy to create areas of micro-damage to the skin. The cells around these micro-zones react by increasing collagen production. This new collagen firms and tightens the skin while smoothing the appearance of scars. Fraxel® works best for small, shallow scars, and you may need several treatment sessions. 

CO2 Laser for Acne Scars

Deeper and wider acne scars respond well to the high-energy fractional CO2 laser (Deep Fx™). This laser penetrates deeply enough to remove (ablate) acne scar tissue. It triggers immediate collagen tightening and speeds up collagen production. Deep Fx™ laser treatment has more downtime but can treat more severe scarring. Many people can see significant improvement after only one session. 

Other Treatments for Acne Scars

An injection of a dermal filler can lift and smooth out certain sunken scars. Dr. Langdon may remove some scars by excision, which means cutting out the scar and leaving a less visible mark in its place. Another option is TCA-CROSS, a treatment in which Dr. Langdon applies a tiny drop of trichloroacetic acid, an acid used for chemical peels, to small “ice-pick” type scars. Dr. Langdon will develop a customized treatment plan to treat your particular acne scars using the best available methods. 

Am I a Good Candidate for Acne Scar Treatments?

If you have acne scars, you have treatment options. Most people make good candidates for laser treatments. If these will not work for you, we will find other treatments to give you smoother, more even skin. 

Is There Any Downtime With Acne Scar Treatments?

Downtime depends on the type of treatment. Fraxel® has minimal downtime, and dermal fillers require none at all. Treatment with a fractional CO2 laser can cause some redness and sensitivity lasting several days. Follow your aftercare instructions and make sure to protect your skin from the sun after laser treatment.

Take the Next Step

If you have further questions about acne scars, we encourage you to schedule a consultation at The Langdon Center in Guilford, CT. Call us at 203-453-8625 or fill out our convenient online contact form.