3 Types of Acne Scars and How to Treat Them

Acne is one of the most common skin conditions, affecting about 80% of people ages 11–30. One-fifth of those people will be left with scars. 

Fortunately, we can help. As skin specialists, Norman J. Pastorek, MD, and Janice Pastorek, BSN, RN, offer a variety of services to address both textural and discoloration issues. Whether you’re dealing with pitted scars, lasting redness, or another form of acne scar, we can help you reduce its visibility at our offices on Manhattan’s Upper East Side in New York City and in Madison, Connecticut. 

The treatment we recommend depends on the kind of scarring that affects your skin. To give you a better idea of what might help your specific complexion, let’s look at three different types of acne scars. 

1. Depressed (atrophic) scars

These scars leave you with an indentation in your skin. The area where you had the acne now sits below the surface of your surrounding skin. 

Atrophic scarring can take a few forms:

• Rolling scars, which make your skin look wavy
• Ice pick scars, which look like small holes
• Boxcar scars, which are box-shaped with defined edges

In some cases, treatment that encourages your skin to create new collagen — like Laser Genesis or PRX Derm Perfexion — helps to fill in the scar. In others, our team may recommend an option like fillers to replenish volume in your depressed scar.  

2. Raised (hypertrophic or keloid) scars

Sometimes, your scar heals as a raised bump on your skin. Laser treatment can help to smooth out the scar tissue that makes that scar visible. We might recommend using the Phoenix 15 device, a CO2 fractional laser, or the Whisper™ gentle fractional resurfacing device to solve this skin texture problem. 

3. Hyperpigmentation scars

In other cases, the texture isn’t the problem. Your skin might heal smoothly but have an area of redness or other discoloration. With the Excel V Laser, we can stimulate new skin cell growth, encouraging your body to get rid of the cells with excess pigmentation. 

Ultimately, if you’re living with acne scars, we have a variety of tools and treatments we can pull from to lessen the visibility of your scarring. Many of these options work best if you get a series or treatments, like three appointments spaced a few weeks apart. 

Talk with our team about your skin goals. We can tailor an acne scar reduction plan for you so you don’t have to live with those lingering reminders of past breakouts. 

To enjoy a more even skin tone and texture, call either of our offices or book your appointment online today.