How to Treat Acne Scarring
As if having acne wasn’t bad enough, the scarring left behind after it has cleared can sometimes be worse. Both acne and acne scarring can harm a person’s self-esteem, having detrimental effects on their professional, romantic, and social lives.
Fortunately, Essential Aesthetics offers a variety of the latest medical treatment options to treat men and women in Danville, San Ramon, and Walnut Creek areas for their acne scarring.
What Causes Acne Scarring?
After acne is healed, it can leave behind very visible scarring. When breakouts are deep in the skin, not only does the skin get damaged, but so does the tissue beneath it. The body begins to repair this damage by producing collagen, but if it doesn’t produce enough, the skin will scar.
What are the Different Types of Acne Scarring?
There are 2 general categories of acne scarring and within each category, there are more specific kinds:
- Depressed (Atrophic) Scars: This scarring occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough collagen, and small cave-like depressions form as the skin heals.
- Icepick scars: This type of scarring is long, thin, and needle-like. It is one of the hardest acne scars to treat.
- Boxcar scars: These are similar to chickenpox scarring, and have a sunken-in indentation that is round.
- Rolling scars: These scars are caused by damage beneath the skin and look rough and textured.
- Raised (Hypertrophic) Scars: This type of scarring occurs when the body creates too much collagen during the healing process, creating a raised scar such as keloid scars.
What Types of Treatment
for Acne Scarring are There?
for Acne Scarring Fractional Lasers
Photofractional
At Essential Aesthetics, we offer a unique Photofractional technology that combines IPL and resurfacing to help improve skin tone and texture at the same time. Our resurfacing laser is a non-ablative skin resurfacing technology that stimulates the production of new collagen and elastin fibers in the deep layers of the skin.
Photoacoustic Fractional Laser
Photoacoustic energy stimulates new collagen so that the skin is renewed, resulting in a brighter and more even skin tone. Many lasers cannot be used on certain skin tones because of the side effects on darker skin, but our photoacoustic fractional laser is suitable for all skin tones because it uses non-thermal energy.
Dermal Fillers for Acne Scars
Hyaluronic acid (HA) dermal fillers such as Juvederm can be used to fill in depressed acne scars. Dermal fillers work best to treat rolling and boxcar scar types. The results can last anywhere from 6 to 18 months depending on the type of filler used.
Subcision for Acne Scars
Subcision is the treatment of acne scars by inserting a needle under the skin and moving it back and forth. This breaks up the fibrotic strands of the scars, releasing the tension under the skin and allowing the skin to rise.
This treatment may require several settings depending on the severity of the scarring.
RF Microneedling for Acne Scars
Radiofrequency (RF) microneedling uses a combination of heat energy and ultra-thin needles to ablate the skin and stimulate collagen production. The heat energy causes coagulation in the blood to achieve skin resurfacing and regeneration of the tissue.
RF microneedling can be combined with fractional laser treatment for optimal results.
When Will I See Results?
Laser for acne scarring takes a series of treatments to achieve optimal results. Not everyone will have the same results, so typically 4-6 sessions are required in 2-6 week intervals in between treatments. Most patients report seeing results after their third treatment. Treatments with dermal fillers can be immediate and take about 2 weeks for optimal results to develop.
Reduce Your Acne Scarring Today
We’re excited to offer laser treatment as a transformative and gentle approach to acne scarring treatment! Our office is perfectly situated for clients traveling from Livermore, Alamo, Blackhawk, San Ramon, Orinda, and elsewhere in the Bay Area. Request a consultation online or call Essential Aesthetics at 925.855.1773 to schedule an appointment or to learn more.