Acne scars fall into two categories, raised and depressed. Depressed acne scarring leaves a depression in your skin and are easier to treat than raised scars. When acne leaves depressions in your skin you may have one of three types of scars or a combination of them. Ice pick scars are small “holes” in your skin, boxcar scars have well defined edges and rolling scars give your skin a wavy appearance. Most treatments can be done as an outpatient in your dermatologist’s office. Recovery time is from the same day to two weeks depending on the treatment method your doctor uses.

Treatments
Surgery is the most common treatment for depressed acne scarring. The aim of surgery is to replace the depressed scar with a flatter less noticeable area. Dermatologists use punch excision to remove the scar. The instrument used in punch excision is similar in shape to a round cookie cutter. Punch elevation is used after this procedure to raise the tissue under the removed area so that it is level with your skin after you heal. A punch graft may be used after removal of a scar using your own skin and grafting it over the area. Subcutaneous incision is a more invasive process that your doctor separates the skin from the scar tissue. This raises the area and helps to flatten the area that was scarred.

Your dermatologist may recommend other treatments for depressed scarring. These include laser skin resurfacing that uses a laser to smooth and resurface your skin. Ablative lasers remove a layer of skin and you must use antibiotic ointments and creams after your treatment to ensure that your skin heals and you do not develop an infection. It takes about two weeks to return to normal activities after an ablative laser treatment. A non-ablative laser does not injure the skin and recovery time is much quicker. This treatment works well for acne scars that are not extensive or very deep. You may need several treatments to see a marked improvement in your skin and some patients continue to see improvements up to 18 months after their treatments.

Filler made of collagen, PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate), hyaluronic acid or fat from another part of your body may be used to plump up acne scarring. This type of treatment can last up to 6 months when a synthetic filler or collagen is used and up to three years if your doctor uses your own fat that he collects through liposuction. Results from fillers are immediate and you can return to your normal activities and wear makeup right after the treatment.

Microdermabrasion and dermabrasion remove layers of skin to help resurface it and smooth out scars. Microdermabrasion is not effective for deep acne scars, but can help to remove the dark spots sometimes left by acne. Dermabrasion removes more layers of skin and the recovery time can be up to one week. Your skin is cleansed and numbed before the treatment. Dermabrasion is performed by using small crystals that take layers of skin off. It can cause redness and swelling. New skin will normally appear in about 10 days and it will be much smoother and your acne scars will be less noticeable.

If you suffer from acnes scarring visit your dermatologist to find out the treatment options that are best for you. Today there are many treatments that can significantly diminish the appearance of depressed acne scars. Your doctor will examine your skin and make recommendations based on your skin type and the severity of your acne scars.