If you experience acne breakouts, you may notice that these breakouts can leave your skin looking uneven or rough. Achieve smoother skin with acne scar treatment. With methods to treat any type of acne scar, your team at the Langdon Center is prepared to help you achieve your goals and feel confident in your skin. 

What Causes Acne Scars?

Not everyone develops acne scars from breakouts. Whether you develop acne scars depends on many factors, including:

• The type of acne you have, with cystic acne-causing more scarring
• Whether excessive inflammation develops
• Whether you pick or damage the skin
• Your body’s natural repair response

Acne scars occur when scar tissue replaces normal facial skin. The most effective treatments for acne scars work by removing scar tissue and allowing healthy, normal skin cells to replace it.

Best Treatments for Acne Scar Removal

The best treatment for your acne scars depends on the type of scar and how many you have. Type 1 scars are shallow and small in diameter. Type 2 scars are deep but small in diameter, and Type 3 scars are deep and large. Dr. Langdon may recommend one or a combination of these treatments:

Fraxel® Laser Skin Resurfacing

Fraxel® is a fractional laser that creates tiny areas of micro-damage in the skin’s surface layers. The laser energy breaks up scar tissue and replaces it with healthy skin cells, revealing a smoother, more even appearance. It also triggers collagen development to smooth and firm the skin’s surface. Fraxel® excels for Type 1 or mild to moderate acne scarring. Although most people benefit from several sessions, you can see improvements in as little as one treatment. 

Fractional CO2 Laser

The DeepFX fractional CO2 laser treatment can treat even deep Type 3 acne scars. Like Fraxel®, it creates areas of micro-damage that break up scar tissue and trigger collagen development. However, fractional CO2 laser treatment is a more powerful alternative for scar reduction. It typically results in more redness lasting a few more days than Fraxel®. The number of treatments depends on your needs. 

Other Methods

Dr. Langdon and his team may treat Type 2 or other scars using punch excision, which removes the scar and lets normal cells replace it. They may also use the CROSS technique, using a tiny amount of chemical peel acid to dissolve scar tissue. Dermal fillers can lift and improve the appearance of recessed acne scars. 

Is There Any Downtime With Acne Scar Removal?

Most acne scar treatments have little to no downtime. Laser treatments often result in temporary redness and sensitivity. A deeper treatment, like a fractional CO2 laser, may also cause flakiness or peeling for a day or two. Protect treated skin from sun exposure and follow your team’s aftercare instructions. 

Take the Next Step 

If you have further questions about acne scar removal, we encourage you to schedule a consultation at The Langdon Center in Guilford, CT. Call us at 203-453-8625 or fill out our convenient online contact form.