Still Plagued by Acne Scars? You Don’t Need to Be

Nonsurgical and Surgical Solutions for Treating Acne Scars

Updated: November 30, 2020

Acne can be such a frustrating part of life — especially if it is chronic and stubborn. If you're struggling with acne, rest assured you are not alone. About 80% of Americans deal with acne at some point during their lives, and 20% of Americans have severe acne, which can be really tough to deal with, not to mention potentially physically (and mentally) scarring.

At the office of Hooman Khorasani, MD, you can address these problematic scars effectively and safely using one or more of the scar treatments available.

Why you have scars

Scars from acne you had as a teenager can last a lifetime and affect your confidence in your physical appearance. Acne scars result because of inflammation in your skin’s pores. This leads to a break in the walls of your follicles.

When this break is minor, you can expect your skin to heal on its own and leave no visible mark. However, when the follicle wall is deeply broken, infectious bacteria, oils, and dead skin cells can leak into the nearby tissue and create even bigger lesions under your skin.

Your body tries to repair this damage by creating new fibers of collagen. When it produces too much collagen, you develop raised scars due to excess tissue growth during the healing process.

If your body doesn’t produce enough collagen, you can actually lose tissue and develop depressed areas of scar tissue. These depressions can make it appear as if you have small indentations or holes where the acne was common.

Your treatment choices

Because everyone has different needs, Dr. Khorasani offers several services to reduce or eliminate the presence of acne scars. First, Dr. Khorasani carefully evaluates the condition of your skin and the severity of your scars to determine the best course of treatment.

Dermal fillers

To improve the look of depressed scars, he may recommend dermal fillers. This type of treatment increases the volume of your skin to minimize the look of scars. Fillers can also enhance your skin’s texture and appearance.

Dermabrasion

If you have raised scars that makes your skin appear uneven, you may opt for dermabrasion, a procedure that effectively removes the surface layer of your skin. By using this type of treatment, you can eliminate excess scar tissue on the surface for a brighter, more even complexion.

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Medications

Thick scars may benefit from injections of specific steroid medicines, such as Triamcinolone and 5-fluorouracil, which can help reduce the thickness of skin in severe acne scars. Over the course of a few treatments, you can see a dramatic reduction in the appearance of acne scars.

Laser treatments

Even if your acne scars are minimal, they can still affect how you feel about your appearance. Resurfacing lasers can gently remove the surface of your skin and allow your body to produce new, healthier skin in its place.

Platelet-rich plasma therapy

Platelet-rich plasma therapy helps repair skin damage. With this treatment, some of your blood is extracted to get a concentration of your blood’s growth factors. Then this concentration is inserted into areas of your damaged skin. Your skin’s appearance and texture then improves as new cells develop.

For severe scars, surgical options to excise the scar tissue is also available when nonsurgical therapies don’t work.

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The ideal treatment depends on the overall health of your skin and the type of scarring you have. To request a consultation, message us securely, or contact Dr. Khorasani’s Manhattan office by phone at 212-230-3378. Also check out our Acne Treatment page for more information!