Love the Skin You're In: How to Banish Acne Scars for Good

While many of us long to have that firm, elastic skin of our youth, we’re certainly more than happy to leave the acne from our teenage years behind. Unfortunately, if that past has stayed with you in the form of acne scarring, you might wish to hit the reset button on your skin.

Acne is the most common skin condition and affects up to 50 million Americans at any given time. Of these numbers, nearly half (47%) are left with acne scars.

If you’re ready to move past acne for good, you’re in the right place. At Vivida Dermatology, our experienced team has an impressive arsenal of acne scar treatments that can help you fall back in love with the skin you’re in. Let’s first review what acne scarring looks like, and then examine how each type of acne scar therapy works.

The different ways acne can leave its mark

Your first encounter with acne wasn’t fun as you navigated angry red and white bumps on your face, so we know how frustrating it is to be left with acne scars.

The different types of acne scars include:

• Atrophic scars — shallow depressions in your skin
• Boxcar scars — clearly defined depressions in your skin 
• Ice pick scars — small holes in your skin
• Rolling scars — a bumpy, wavy texture to your skin
• Hypertrophic and keloid scars — raised scars

If your acne scarring seems to be more noticeable as you age, you’re not imagining it. Aging skin can make most scars stand out a bit more, but the effect can be even more dramatic with certain scars, such as atrophic scars, which appear larger and deeper. 

Erasing the past with acne scar therapy

We choose the best treatment based on the type of scarring. Here’s a quick look at each one.

Skin rejuvenation with laser technology

Our practice uses a wide range of skin rejuvenation lasers, including CO2 lasers, IPL lasers, and fractional lasers. These innovative skin laser treatments allow us to break apart existing acne scar tissue and surface blemishes to set the stage for collagen remodeling and smoother skin.

Chemical peels

With a chemical peel, we can tackle a number of surface concerns, including mild to moderate acne scarring on the surface of your skin.

Dermabrasion

This is another great option for mild to moderate acne scarring, in which we use a medical-grade sander to remove the top layer of your skin to encourage more evenly toned and smooth skin to come in.

Subcision and excision

With severe acne, you’re more prone to developing acne scars that travel more deeply into your skin. In these cases, we sometimes need to perform a minor, in-office procedure in which we sever the fibrous attachments of the scar.

Also, if you have small, raised scars that resist surface treatments, we can remove them individually through excision.

Dermal fillers

If you have pockmarks on the heels of acne that seem to grow larger with age, dermal fillers can fill in the indentations to smooth out your skin.

Microneedling with radiofrequency (RF) energy

With this treatment, we first break apart the scar tissue with tiny needles, and then rely on the RF energy to create a call for new collagen to lift and smooth your skin.

As you can see, we have an extensive toolkit for acne scarring, and we’re confident that we have the right tools for your goals.

Choosing the best approach for your skin

If you want your acne in the past where it belongs, come in and sit down with us to figure out which acne scar therapy would work best for you. Contact one of our offices in Las Vegas or Henderson, Nevada, to schedule an appointment.