Dealing with acne can be super frustrating and can sometimes feel like an endless journey. But just when you think you’ve finally cleared your skin of those pesky breakouts and the battle is over, there they are, the hardest part of the whole journey—atrophic acne scars.
Luckily, there are ways to improve their appearance by “filling in” those pitted scars and reducing post-acne hyperpigmentation, helping you achieve the complexion you’ve always dreamed of.
But first, let’s look at how UV rays can cause damage to your skin!
IN THIS ARTICLE
1. Acne Scars: Types & Causes
Before we dive into the details of our favourite acne scar treatments, let’s first understand how these scars form.
Atrophic acne scars develop from deep, inflamed acne lesions that rupture the follicular wall and damage healthy skin tissue. Typically, our body responds by producing collagen to repair the damaged tissue. However, sometimes this healing process doesn’t go as planned, and the skin fails to regenerate the necessary tissue and collagen properly, leading to atrophic acne scars.
To make matters more complex, acne scars come in various forms, and you can have more than one type at the same time. This is why different and sometimes multiple treatments are needed. It’s important to identify the type(s) of acne scars you have, so let’s break down the three main types of atrophic scars:
- Ice Pick Scars: These are deep, narrow scars that extend into the dermis. They often resemble small, deep holes in the skin’s surface.
- Boxcar Scars: These scars have sharp, well-defined edges and a box-like shape. They are wider than ice-pick scars and can be shallow or deep.
- Rolling Scars: Rolling scars have a wave-like appearance with gently sloping edges. They create a rolling or undulating texture on the skin.
Anyone with acne scars knows the frustration of spending money on skincare that just doesn’t work. The truth is, these scars often need medical treatments to truly fade. Instead of wasting time and money on ineffective solutions, we’re excited to share our favourite acne scar treatments that are proven to deliver transformative results. Let’s dive in!
2. Treating Acne Scars With Different Types of Microneedling
At GMA Clinic, we offer various types of microneedling treatments. Microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy, works to create controlled micro-injuries in the skin, which stimulate the production of collagen and elastin. This process also forms micro-channels that enhance the absorption of topical gels, creams, and serums, allowing them to penetrate deeper into the skin for maximum effect.
To further boost results, we often combine this treatment with a customized cocktail of vitamins, growth factors, peptides, and
other active ingredients tailored to your skin’s unique needs.
Let’s take a look at different types of Microneedling for acne prone skin and acne scars:
CBD Microneedling
We generally do not recommend microneedling for those with active acne due to the risk of spreading bacteria. However, GMA CBD Microneedling is a notable exception, thanks to the healing and anti-inflammatory properties of CBD.
GMA CBD Microneedling not only helps reduce acne scars and hyperpigmentation but also calms inflammation, regulates sebum production, promotes wound healing, and reduces redness, irritation, and sensitivity. This unique approach helps control acne breakouts and promotes healthy, clear skin.
How does it work?
This potent skin rejuvenating treatment combines CBD’s anti-inflammatory and healing properties with microneedling’s collagen-boosting effects to rebuild a healthy, glowing, and youthful complexion.
Benefits you can expect:
- Reduces acne scars, hyperpigmentation, inflammation, redness, irritation, and sensitivity
- Controls acne breakouts and promotes clear, healthy skin
- Stimulates collagen production, improves fine lines, wrinkles, and skin elasticity
- Improves acne scarring, enlarged pores, and uneven skin texture
- Repairs compromised skin barrier for healthier, resilient skinGet an inside look at what to expect from CBD microneedling with our patient Winnie’s Skin Diary!
Bloody Facial AKA PRP Therapy
If you are thinking…is this facial also known as “Vampire Facial”, you are right! Yes, it’s the facial that Kim K put on the map!
How does it work?
Bloody Facial is a powerful acne scar treatment leverages your body’s own blood to rejuvenate your skin. Your blood cells are drawn and centrifuged to extract platelet rich plasma, which contain a high concentration of healing growth factors. We then reintroduce the PRP into your skin through microneedling to stimulate collagen production and cellular growth.
Benefits you can expect:
- Accelerates skin healing and regeneration
- Enhances skin texture and tone
- Reduces pore size
- Promotes collagen and elastin production
- Treats acne scars and other scars
- Improves dark circles and tear troughs
ExoFacial
ExoFacial is a game-changing treatment uses exosomes delivered via microneedling to rejuvenate and repair your skin. Think of exosomes as tiny packages packed with growth factors and anti-inflammatory agents that give your skin a serious boost in repair and regeneration.
How does it work?
Exosomes are fascinating because they enhance cellular communication. These tiny vesicles travel between cells, delivering crucial messages that improve the function of the recipient cells. Essentially, they act like messengers, boosting the performance and health of your skin cells. When directly applied to the skin, exosomes can deliver their cargo of growth factors, proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and other molecules to various skin cells, influencing cellular processes such as repair and regeneration. Exosomes can encourage fibroblasts to proliferate and contribute to the processes of wound healing, tissue repair and rejuvenation. By delivering key growth factors to fibroblasts, exosomes can regulate collagen synthesis and disposition, leading to improved skin texture, elasticity, and firmness.
Benefits you can expect:
- Fade acne scars and pigmentation
- Boost skin regeneration and healing
- Promote an even skin tone and smooth texture
- Calm inflammation and redness
- Increase collagen production for firmer, younger-looking skin
3. Treating Acne Scars With Infini RF Microneedling
How does it work?
Infini RF Micronnedling is an acne scar treatment that is different from regular microneedling as it involves fine microneedles transmitting thermal energy deep into the dermis, creating thermal coagulation zones. This process stimulates collagen production, effectively improving skin texture, pore size, and filling in atrophic scars.
Let’s take a look at some of our favourite results from Infini RF Microneedling!
4. Treating Acne Scars With Subcision
During the treatment, a blunt needle known as cannula is inserted directly into the acne scar, beneath the skin. The needle is used to loosen and break up the fibers that tether the scar to the underlying tissue, stimulating the release of collagen directly under the scar.
For more impactful results, subcision is often paired with Microneedling or RF Microneedling to tackle stubborn acne scars in the most powerful way.
Check out the results our patient was able to achieve with this acne scar treatment in just ONE session!
Summary
Treating acne scars requires a combination of treatments and commitment. By customising the treatment plan to our patients’ needs and skin conditions with powerful advanced medical aesthetic treatments such as CBD microneedling, Bloody Facial (PRP Therapy), ExoFacial, RF microneedling and Subcision, we’ve helped many patients achieve the results that they’ve long been waiting for.
If you are ready to experience similar results, make sure to book a consultation with our experts today and let us help you get started on your skin health journey.
