Pimples are temporary, but acne scars love to overstay their welcome. Whether they’re indented, raised, or just stubborn dark marks, they don’t just fade away on their own—but that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with them forever. While acne scars can’t be erased completely, their appearance can be dramatically reduced with the right treatments, leaving your skin looking smoother, clearer, and more even.
So, why do some scars stick around while others fade faster? And what actually works to make them way less noticeable? We’ll break down all of these and more so you can take advantage of the many pro treatments for acne scars.
What Causes Acne Scars?
We widely think of acne scars as leftover marks from breakouts, but they’re actually the result of disrupted wound healing deep within the skin.
The formation of acne triggers inflammation within the pilosebaceous unit (where hair follicles and oil glands live). The body responds by sending immune cells to combat the irritation, but in the process, collagen (among the key proteins responsible for skin repair) can be damaged or over produced.
This disruption in the collagen production process leads to various types of acne scars:
- Not enough collagen = atrophic scars (the indented, pitted marks like icepick, boxcar, or rolling scars). This happens in the majority of the cases and is due to a net loss of collagen as the skin fails to properly rebuild itself.
- Too much collagen = hypertrophic or keloid scars (raised, thickened scars). These are less common and occur when the body goes into overdrive, producing excess collagen in an attempt to heal the skin.
Types of Acne Scars
Not all acne scars are created equal. Some leave behind deep pits, others create uneven texture, and some just refuse to fade on their own. The good news? Understanding your scar type is the first step to treating it effectively. Since different scars form in different ways, the best approach isn’t one-size-fits-all—what works for one type might not work for another.
So, what kind of acne scars are we dealing with? Let’s break them down—because the better you know your scars, the better your chances of dramatically reducing their appearance.
- Rolling scars - If your skin has rolling or wave-like scars, it’s more likely you have rolling acne scars. These scars result from long-term inflammatory acne and can become more visible as you age when your skin loses its natural elasticity.
- Boxcar scar - Boxcar scars create an uneven, pitted appearance to your skin. This scar is a round or oval depression with steep vertical sides. It is caused by the loss of tissue on the skin when an inflammatory acne breakout destroys collagen.
- Ice-pick scars - The skin appears to be as if an ice pick or sharp object has pierced it. This type of scar makes a small, thin, deep hole into the skin - like a large pore, and is developed when skin tissue is destroyed due to infection from a cyst or other deep inflamed skin.
- Pigmentation scars - This scar is extremely common for people who have or had acne. It is a discolouration left on the skin after acne is healed, but it isn’t an actual scar. Discolouration of skin depends on the skin type. It may appear pink, red, purple or black.
Professional Treatments for Acne Scars
A combination of treatments can help visibly reduce your acne scarring. Microneedling and Cosmetic Grade Peels will rejuvenate the supportive components of your skin to help firm and plump it.
Microneedling works to even your skin tone and help reduce the appearance of acne scars.
Cosmetic Grade Peels are a great compliment to Microneedling, to help with resurfacing and your skin’s barrier strength.
Microneedling
What is Microneedling?
Microneedling stimulates the production of your collagen to create smoother, healthier skin. It works to reduce the appearance of acne scars, stretch marks, fine lines, pigmentation, enlarged pores, blackheads and scarring.
How does Microneedling work?
The treatment uses small, sterile needles to puncture the epidermis to trigger a controlled healing response which will aid in repairing and rebuilding the skin. The treatment creates tiny puncture channels that encourage an organic collagen renewal and regeneration response. The treatment is quick and not too uncomfortable with minimal downtime.
Microneedling / Microneedling benefits also include stimulation of organic collagen renewal that is perfect for people that cannot undertake laser therapy treatments for skin conditions such as acne scarring.
Cosmetic Grade Peels
What are Cosmetic Grade Peels?
Cosmetic Grade Peels work to deeply exfoliate the skin and help to improve the tone and texture of your skin by smoothing out the signs of ageing, sun exposure and congestion.
How do Cosmetic Grade Peels work?
You might have age spots, freckles or other discolouration you want to reduce. Or maybe you want to improve the appearance of acne scarring or large pores. Our range of effective Cosmetic Grade Peels help repair and polish your skin with just one visit.
There are a variety of peels available for different skin concerns including the Calm and Hydrate Peel, Clear and Bright Peel, Anti-Ageing Peel and the Advanced Brightening and Clearing Peel. We recommend the Advanced Brightening and Clearing Peel and Clear and Bright Peel for clearing post-acne pigmentation skin.
At-Home Care
To support collagen production at home in between your treatments a high-intensity vitamin A serum, like Skinstitut™ Retinol Serum, will be highly advantageous. Using Encapsulated Retinol (a multi-functional delivery system) this hard-working serum has the ability to reverse, prevent and repair skin damage.
Ongoing use facilitates collagen and elastin production deep within the skin to smooth out pitted acne scarring while also reducing the appearance of skin discolouration from previous acne breakouts within more superficial layers of the skin.
After your skin has adjusted to using Retinol every evening (you have to gradually introduce this corrector into your regime) you can take your homecare regime up another notch to achieve even better results out of your clinical treatments.
The right treatment for you will depend on the type of scarring you have. Our treatments are highly effective for concerns like pigmentation, slight skin depressions, and enlarged pores.
We’re here to help you find the best solution for your skin, and our team will guide you through the options that may work best for your individual needs.
Why Do Some Acne Scars Heal and Some Don’t?
The difference boils down to inflammation, genetics, and the severity of the acne itself. How the skin reacts to breakouts is a huge factor in whether it heals smoothly or leaves behind lasting marks.
Here are some possible reasons some acne scars heal faster than others, while some take years to heal at all:
Level of Acne Inflammation
The longer or more severe the acne inflammation, the higher the chance of scarring. Acne lesions damage the surrounding skin and underlying collagen, which leads to indentations or excessive collagen buildup. Most severe acne cases like nodules and cysts are far more likely to leave permanent marks.
Genetics
Inherited factors like skin thickness, collagen production, and skin tone may all affect your skin’s repair capabilities. Thinner skin scars more easily, while lower collagen production makes it difficult to rebuild damaged tissue. Darker skin is more prone to hyperpigmentation and keloid scars (due to high melanin presence. Certain immune system traits can also increase inflammation, increasing scarring risk.
The Bottom Line on Acne Scars
Acne scars may be stubborn, but they don’t necessarily have to be totally noticeable. It is possible to have them fade over time, though, with consistent treatment. The right combination of professional and targeted skincare techniques will do wonders.If you’re ready to explore professional acne scar treatments, book a FREE skin consultation with a Skin Therapist at your preferred Laser Clinics United Kingdom location. We’ll help put together a personalised treatment plan to help you achieve your skin goals.
