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Common Symptom Guide

The Breakouts Are Gone. The Scars Don't Have to Stay.

Acne scarring is genuinely treatable, even years after the breakouts stopped. The right approach depends on your specific scar type — here's how we figure that out.

Reviewed by Dr. Justin Abbott, D.O. — ABFM Board-Certified Physician
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ABFM Board Certified Evidence-Based Care Personalized Treatment Plans
Understanding Acne Scars

Not All Acne Scars Are the Same

Acne scarring forms when inflammation damages the collagen structure supporting your skin, and it shows up in several distinct patterns: rolling scars (broad, shallow depressions), boxcar scars (defined, box-like depressions), ice pick scars (narrow, deep pits), and post-inflammatory discoloration (flat marks that aren't true scarring at all). Each type responds differently to treatment, which is why an accurate assessment matters more than picking a trendy treatment first.

The good news: most acne scarring is treatable, even scarring that's been present for years. Improvement usually comes from a series of treatments working together rather than a single fix, and results build gradually as your skin remodels collagen over months.

Common patterns worth evaluating

Rolling or shallow, broad depressions in the skin
Defined, box-like depressed scars
Narrow, deep pitted scars
Flat red or brown marks left after breakouts heal
Textural changes noticeable in certain lighting
Scarring that's affected your confidence in how you look
How We Approach It

Matched to Your Specific Scar Type

We start with a real skin assessment to identify which type of scarring you're dealing with, since rolling, boxcar, ice pick scars, and discoloration each respond best to different approaches. Treatment often combines microneedling, chemical peels, and other resurfacing options into a realistic series, not a single quick fix.

Physician Insight

"Patients often think acne scarring is just something they have to live with once the breakouts stop. It's not. It takes a real series of treatment, matched to the actual scar type, but meaningful improvement is genuinely achievable."

Related Conditions

Acne scars often connect to: adult acne, microneedling, chemical peels, and skin resurfacing.

What Patients Say
Common Questions

Acne Scars FAQs

What patients ask most before their first appointment.

Yes. Scar tissue and collagen structure can be improved with the right treatments regardless of how long ago the acne occurred. There's no expiration date on when treatment can help.
True scarring involves a textural change — a depression or raised area from altered collagen. Post-inflammatory discoloration is a flat mark, either red or brown, left behind after a breakout heals, and it typically fades faster and responds well to different treatments like peels.
This depends on your scar type and severity, but most patients need a series of several treatments spaced weeks apart, often combining approaches like microneedling and chemical peels. We'll build a realistic plan and timeline at your consultation.
Get Started

Ready to Address the Scars, Not Just the Breakouts?

Book a consultation and we'll assess your specific scar type and build a real treatment plan around it.