Post-Acne Scars – How to Remove Them

Acne vulgaris is one of the most common skin diseases. It affects the majority of adolescents and often persists into adulthood. Approximately 15% of acne cases are severe inflammatory forms, often leaving scars. The best time to start treating these scars is in the autumn. What helps with post-acne scars?

What is Acne

Acne vulgaris is a chronic, inflammatory disease of the sebaceous hair follicles. It is characterized by seborrhea and various types of skin lesions. These occur on the face, upper chest, neck, or between the shoulder blades. Acne, especially in its severe form, can affect the well-being and quality of life of the patient. Many patients also experience significant stress due to complications of the disease – scars.

Types of Post-Acne Scars

Scars usually form during the healing process of various injuries, such as skin incisions during surgery, burns, or inflammation at the site of an acne lesion. They can take different forms.

The most common remnants of acne are so-called atrophic scars, which are depressions (indentations) in the skin. They occur when the disease is accompanied by purulent states and inflammatory changes, which favor improper healing. Post-acne scars are usually many small, crater-like indentations.

Sometimes, acne can also result in keloids. These are a type of hypertrophic scars (associated with excess tissue).

Post-Acne Scars – Treatment

The removal of post-acne scars can begin after the skin lesions have healed. The sooner treatment starts, the better the outcome. The choice of method depends on the specific needs of the patient.

As depressed scars are most common after acne, the goal of therapy is usually to fill the indentations and even out their outer part. The doctor's task is therefore to signal the body to rebuild collagen in the area where it is lacking.

In the case of keloids, where the scar is larger than the injury, the therapy aims to reduce the excess tissue.

Scar treatment for post-acne scars usually takes a longer time. It may be based on one of the following methods or their combination.

Mesotherapy for Post-Acne Scars

Mesotherapy is one of the most commonly used techniques in aesthetic medicine. During the procedure, the doctor performs a series of injections and subcutaneously administers a chosen therapeutic agent. The substance is chosen individually. The procedure has a low number of complications and requires repetition.

Microneedling for Scars

Post-acne scars can also be treated with microneedling. At Dr. Parda's clinic, we perform this using the Dermapen device. The treatment stimulates skin regeneration. It allows for mechanical detachment of fibrous tissue from the base and initiates new, proper healing.

Scars – Laser Treatment

Laser methods are often used in the treatment of post-acne scars. During the procedure, the light of the device penetrates deep into the skin. This damages the collagen cells and stimulates the production of new collagen. Laser treatments are associated with relatively low risk of complications.

In our clinic, we use:

• eCO2 fractional laser (also known as the Mercedes among CO2 lasers, also used for treating keloids);
• 1064/532 wavelength surgical laser (we use it to perform the genesis procedure, which can be undergone throughout the year);
• P.L.E.A.S.E. laser (the procedure with this device combines laser therapy with the administration of a chosen active substance into the deep layers of the skin).
  
  

RF INFINI Microneedle Radiofrequency in Scar Treatment

One of the newest methods for removing post-acne scars is RF INFINI microneedle radiofrequency. It is based on the combination of two technologies – microneedling with needles and radiofrequency (radio waves). We perform it using the Infini device. The procedure leads to the "pushing out" of tissue. Several treatments are usually needed for the therapy to be effective.