Acne Scarring

About Acne Scarring

Dr Shreya Andric Acne Treatment Dermatology Treatment Northern Sydney Derm.

Acne scarring affects 30% of those with moderate or severe acne vulgaris. To reduce the chance of scarring, seek treatment for your acne early. Severe acne can often be cured.

Acne scars vary in their presentation and can include pigment change, ice pick scars, boxcar scars, rolling scars, and hypertrophic (thickened) scars. Treatment of acne scarring is not one-size-fits-all - the different scar types require different treatment approaches. A carefully curated treatment plan will be decided upon according to your scar types.

Pigment change can be treated with:

  • Careful sun protection

  • Topical treatments

  • Chemical peels

  • Laser/light treatments

Ice pick and boxcar scars can be treated with:

  • Laser resurfacing

  • Punch excision/punch elevation for deep scars

  • TCA CROSS (Chemical Reconstruction of Skin Scarring) – using 50-100% of trichloroacetic acid placed precisely into the scars using a fine paintbrush

  • Subcision (with or without hyaluronic acid filler)

  • Excision for larger scars

Atrophic and rolling scars:

  • Soft tissue augmentation using hyaluronic acid fillers

  • Radiofrequency microneedling

  • Laser resurfacing

Hypertrophic

  • Intralesional steroid injections into the scar

  • Silicone gel dressings

  • Surgical revision