By Intern Sara G and Dr Arron
Acne causes inflammation and dermal structure breakdown which can result in scarring. Here at Premier Aesthetic Dermatology (PAD), we want to work with our patients to treat active acne and prevent scarring. There 3 main types of acne scars that we treat:
- Atrophic scars (ice pick, boxcar, rolling scars)
- Hypertrophic and Keloid scars
- Papular scars
What can we do about it?
Dr. Arron specializes in a multimodal approach to target each specific type of acne scar. There are many types of treatments that we use to minimize scarring as much as possible. Dr. Arron has given international talks about acne scarring and is an expert in the field.
What treatments can I try at PAD?
- Chemical peels: used to resurface the skin, smooth texture, and promote repair of scar tissue
- TCA Cross is highly effective at targeting individual deep scars
- Microneedling: promotes blood flow, collagen induction, and can smooth skin surface.
- Tranexamic acid, exosomes, and platelet rich plasma (PRP) can be added on to boost results
- Lasers: target scars to improve pigment and texture.
- Fractional CO2 Ablative laser: gold standard of skin resurfacing. Drills tiny holes into the skin which leave open areas to heal, resulting in new dermal collagen and fresh epidermis
- Fractional Non-Ablative Laser: delivers heat to the dermis non-invasively.
- Vbeam: targets redness specifically within scars. Especially effective for keloid scars.
- Pico Laser: targets darker pigmented spots.
- Fillers/Biostimulators: can be used to add volume and stimulate further collagen production in the deeper dermis.
- Hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers
- Calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHA) fillers
- Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) fillers
- Surgical treatments: specific areas or scars can be targeted to elevate and improve the look of the scar.
- Punch excision: scar is removed and stitched closed, mainly used to target deep boxcar scars.
- Subcision: scar tissue is broken up with a needle or cannula. This results in elevation of the scar and collagen growth. This treatment is mainly used for areas of rolling and boxcar scars.
- Other punch techniques: promotes scar elevation and improvement, works best for boxcar and bigger ice pick scars.
TCA Cross + Subcision + Skinvive and/or microneedling is a very effective and popular package that is typically recommended in Dr. Arron’s multimodal approach to treat acne scarring.
What if I’m still breaking out?
Don’t worry! If you are still breaking out or are still getting active acne, we are happy to work with you to come up with a personalized treatment plan for a combination of active acne and acne scarring. While some of the more intensive acne scarring treatments are best left until active acne is cleared, there are still a wide variety of really effective treatments that can combat both active acne and acne scarring.
How do I know what treatment is right for me?
Dr. Arron and Dr. Jhin are both Board Certified Dermatologist and specialize in acne scarring. We encourage patients to schedule a one on one consultation with our doctors at PAD to ensure the right treatment is offered to you. Our team will assess your skin and main concerns in detail to provide a personalized treatment plan that includes the number of treatments needed and a cost breakdown.
