Pearl Med Spa
Scarring
The marks and dents acne leaves behind can be softened, gently and over time, by helping your skin rebuild.
The photograph shows skin before (left) and after (right) a series of treatments, shared with the client's consent. Individual results vary.
Treating scarring under the surface
What acne scarring is
Acne scars are lasting changes in the skin's texture after a breakout heals: small pits, shallow dents, rolling hollows or, less often, raised marks. They are different from the flat red or brown marks acne can leave, which usually fade on their own; true scars change the surface of the skin itself.
How it happens
Deep, inflamed breakouts such as cysts and nodules damage the collagen beneath the skin. As the skin repairs itself, it can make too little collagen, leaving a dent, or occasionally too much, leaving a raised scar. Picking or squeezing spots, waiting a long time to treat acne, and genetics all raise the chance of scarring.
Our approach at Pearl Med Spa
We start with a 3D skin analysis to map the texture of your skin and see which types of scarring you have. Because scars sit below the surface, we focus on treatments that prompt your skin to build new collagen and smooth itself from within, paired with care for any remaining marks and active breakouts. Scarring improves over a series of sessions, so we plan for steady, visible progress.
Four types of acne scarring
Ice pick scars
Narrow, deep pits that look like large open pores, most often on the cheeks. They are small at the surface but reach down into the skin, so they usually need a series of collagen-building sessions.
Boxcar scars
Wider depressions with sharp, defined edges, often on the cheeks and temples. Shallow boxcar scars tend to respond well to collagen stimulation.
Rolling scars
Broad, soft-edged hollows that give the skin a wavy, uneven look, especially in side lighting. They come from bands of tissue tethering the skin beneath, and improve as new collagen fills in the area.
Raised scars
Firm, raised marks where the skin made too much collagen while healing, more common on the jawline, chest and back. They need a different, gentler approach, so tell us if you have them.
The photograph shows skin before (top) and after (bottom) a series of treatments, shared with the client's consent. Individual results vary.
Our solutions for scarring
Each one is chosen after your skin analysis, and they are often combined over a treatment plan.
Microneedling
Controlled micro-channels prompt your skin's own collagen to rebuild, softening the look of shallow scars, pits and uneven texture over a series of sessions.
RF Collagen Treatment
Gentle radio-frequency warmth reaches the deeper layers of the skin to encourage fresh collagen, helping to firm and smooth the skin around scarring with no downtime.
Post-Acne Treatment
A facial for the texture and marks breakouts leave behind, refining the surface and evening out leftover redness and discolouration between other treatments.
Scarring questions
Can acne scars be removed completely?
Most scars can't be erased entirely, but they can often be softened. Many clients find their skin looks smoother and more even, so scars are less visible, especially under makeup or in daylight.
Are dark marks the same as scars?
No. Flat red, pink or brown marks after a breakout are discolouration and usually fade with time and the right care. Scars change the texture of the skin. Your skin analysis shows which you have, and many clients have both.
How many sessions will I need?
Most clients need a series of sessions spaced about four to six weeks apart, since collagen takes time to rebuild. Your esthetician will map out a plan after your skin analysis.
When will I see a difference?
Skin often looks fresher within days, but texture improves gradually. Collagen keeps building for weeks after each session, so the biggest changes show over the course of the series.
Can I be treated if I still have breakouts?
Active, inflamed acne is best calmed first, so we may start with an acne-targeted facial and home care before working on scarring. Read about acne.
Is there downtime?
After microneedling, skin is usually pink for a day or two, like a mild sunburn. RF treatment and facials have no downtime. Daily sunscreen helps protect the results.
Get a plan built for your skin
Book a skin analysis and we will map your scarring and how best to smooth it.