Acne scarring is a complex medical condition that goes deeper than the surface of the skin. You can develop scars after acne whether your acne is severe or not. While many products claim to "erase" scars at home, professional intervention is essential for real results.
What Is the Difference Between Acne Scarring and Pigmentation?
The most common mistake people make is misidentifying their "scars." What many perceive as scarring is actually Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH)—flat, red, or dark spots left behind after a breakout.
Pigmentation is a color issue and can often be treated with topical brightening agents. True Scarring involves a change in the physical texture of the skin (indents or bumps) caused by a loss or excess of collagen.
A dermatologist uses clinical tools to determine which you are dealing with, ensuring you don't waste time or money on treatments that don't match your condition.
What Type of Acne Scars Do You Have?
Acne scars are not all created equal, and using the wrong procedure can be ineffective or even worsen the skin's appearance.
Atrophic Scars (Depressed): These include "ice pick," "boxcar," and "rolling" scars. They require treatments that build collagen, such as microneedling, laser resurfacing, or chemical peels.
Hypertrophic/Keloid Scars (Raised): These are caused by overactive healing. Using a collagen-stimulating treatment here could make the scar larger. Instead, dermatologists use steroid injections or specialized lasers to flatten the tissue.
Improve Acne Scars with Access to Medical-Grade Technology
Over-the-counter creams cannot physically "fill in" a deep pit or "sand down" a raised scar. Dermatologists provide access to procedures that reach the deeper layers of the dermis:
Subcision: A needle is used to break up the fibrous bands pulling the skin down.
Fraxel: Laser resurfacing to tighten and minimize the appearance of acne scarring.
Dermal Fillers: Immediate volume is added to lift depressed areas.
Prevent Future Scarring with Treatment Now
The most effective way to manage scars is to stop new ones from forming. A dermatologist doesn't just treat the history of your skin; they treat its future. By providing a prescription-strength plan to control active acne, they ensure that your scar treatment isn't undermined by new inflammatory breakouts.
Is Acne Scar Treatment Safe? What About My Skin Tone?
Certain lasers and deep peels can cause permanent discoloration if used on the wrong skin tone. A board-certified dermatologist understands the physics of light and chemistry of acids, selecting the safest parameters for your specific ethnicity and skin type to avoid "hot spots" or scarring from the treatment itself.