Acne Scarring

If acne scarrring bothers you, safe and effective treatment is available. Many people notice that acne scars often become more prominent as we age because our skin loses collagen. Treatment can diminish acne scars that cause depressions in the skin, including ice-pick, rolling, and box car scars. Treatment can also safely reduce raised acne scars.

Before getting treatment for acne scars, it is important to clear your acne if it is still active. New acne breakouts can lead to new acne scars. Having acne also means that your skin is inflamed. Inflammation reduces the effectiveness of treatment for acne scars.

Treatments include laser treatments, chemical peels, minor skin surgeries, and fillers. The key to effective treatment is to select the best treatment for each scar type. For example, a patient who has some deep scars may benefit from getting a soft-tissue filler, which adds volume to the depressions in the skin. This may be followed by laser treatments to even skin tone and texture.

To obtain the best results, Dr. Curcio will do a consultation and first examine your skin. After the exam, she can customize a treatment plan especially for you.

TREATMENTS:

• Topical Retinoids: Prescription medications that are applied nightly to the skin to help smooth out very superficial acne scars.
• Microneedling: Multiple tiny needles cause controlled micro-injuries that stimulate your body’s natural wound healing process, while minimizing cellular damage. The result is effective remodeling of scar tissue, while keeping the overall structure of the skin intact. A series a treatments is needed for optimal results.
• Chemical Peels: A dermatologist applies a chemical peel to the skin to remove its damaged top layers and stimulate new cell growth beneath the acne scars. This lifts the scar to the level of the surrounding skin, minimizing its appearance.
• Soft Tissue Fillers: A dermal filler is injected beneath the scar depression to lift it to the level of the surrounding skin. The benefit from soft tissue fillers usually lasts up to 18 months. Treatment must be repeated to maintain the appearance.
• Subcision: This minor surgical procedure consists of numbing the skin and inserting a hypodermic needle underneath the acne scar to sever it from the surrounding tissue. The depression is lifted by the releasing action as well as from connective tissue that forms as part of the healing process.
  Excision & Punch Grafting: Several small scars are removed with a scalpel and/or punch biopsy. The resulting “holes” are either stitched closed or replaced with a patch of normal skin from another part of the body (punch graft).
• Dermabrasion: A common treatment for superficial and some deeper acne scars. For this treatment, the top layer of skin is polished back to dramatically improve contour. As a new layer of skin replaces the old, a smoother, refreshed appearance is achieved. Plan for a recovery period of about two weeks, and long-lasting results.
• Laser Treatment: Lasers can be used to treat the redness and broken blood vessels around the acne scars, the dark spots around the scars, and to smooth the scars themselves. These include the Excel V™, Laser Genesis™, ResurFX™ and Fractora™. Multiple treatments sessions may be required.

Dr. Curcio specializes in Cosmetic and Laser Surgery. With her extensive experience, she can personalize a treatment regimen to help you attain the best possible cosmetic result.

Make an appointment with Dr. Curcio to determine what treatment is best for you.