Your skin is really good at healing itself, but the healing process doesn’t always go as smoothly as one would hope. This can be especially true when it comes to acne. Sometimes pimples come and go with little fuss, and sometimes a pimple can leave a lasting scar.
Not only can acne scars disrupt the texture of your skin, but they can be a major source of insecurity. If you’re feeling self-conscious about acne scars, you’re not alone. Scarring caused by acne is incredibly common and can take many different forms.
While not all acne scars can be completely removed, they are highly treatable. If you’re looking for acne scar removal in Philadelphia, About Face Aesthetics is here to help. We offer a wide range of customizable treatments for reducing and improving the appearance of both scarring and hyperpigmentation caused by acne.
The Treatment Process
Acne scar removal in Philadelphia is a highly individualized process, and no single aesthetic treatment can be used with across-the-board success. Finding the right treatment for your acne scars takes skill and expertise. In other words, you’ll need a professional to create an in-depth treatment and support plan for achieving lasting results.
At About Face Aesthetics, our skin care experts provide acne scar removal in Philadelphia to minimize the appearance of divots, pockmarks, bumps, and hyperpigmentation. But acne scar removal isn’t just about what we get rid of. What you get back is every bit as important—your confidence.
What Are Acne Scars?
Acne scars can often seem like the angry ghosts of pimples past. But there’s a little bit more to them than that. According to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, acne scars are “usually the result of inflamed blemishes caused by skin pores engorged with excess oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria.”
In simpler terms—before they became scars, these skin blemishes were once pimples or cysts. Whether or not scars form, and how they appear, depends on many factors. Some of these factors include:
- Depth and size of the pimple or cyst
- Whether or not you popped it or picked at it
- Genetics
Scars vs. Hyperpigmentation
One distinction we should make early on is the distinction between acne scars and hyperpigmentation caused by acne. Hyperpigmentation is flat, while acne scars are either raised (hypertrophic) or pitted (depressed).
The distinction between scarring and hyperpigmentation isn’t trivial, as they often require different treatments and approaches. Excess pigment caused by a pimple is typically easier to fade than textured scarring.
Acne scars vary widely in size, severity, depth, coloration, and distribution. For some of our clients at About Face Aesthetics, acne scars are the primary concern that brought them through our doors. And for others, acne scar removal is more of a secondary concern. The appearance and severity of acne scars (not to mention the degree of emotional distress they cause) are different for everyone.
Treatment Approaches for Acne Scars
Your specific course of treatment will depend on the type of scars you have. Deep pockmarks are nearly impossible to completely get rid of, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they can’t be improved or minimized.
Ultimately, our experts will need to see the scars in person before they can determine the best treatment options and build a treatment plan to set you up for success.
Treatments for Acne Scar Removal in Philadelphia
The process for acne scar removal in Philadelphia doesn’t always end with total elimination of the scar, but you can always count on your About Face provider to take every possible step to minimize your scars as much as possible.
As you read through the following treatments, keep in mind that some of them might not work for you. You also don’t have to worry about picking the right one for you. You can leave it to us to recommend the ideal treatment for you.
Some of the many factors that go into determining the best treatment options include:
- Type of scar (or pigmentation)
- Severity
- Specific location of scarring (cheeks, forehead, temples, chin, etc.)
- Ethnicity (some ethnicities are more prone to developing deep pockmarks)
- Skin tone
- Skin type
- Budget (how much you’re able to spend on acne scar removal in Philadelphia)
- Downtime (how much downtime you can afford to take)
Let’s explore some of your treatment options!
Morpheus8 Microneedling
Morpheus8 is one of our most popular treatments for resolving issues with skin texture and for acne scar removal in Philadelphia.
Microneedling devices use tiny needles to create a series of controlled micro-injuries. What this does is trick your body into responding as though your skin was injured without inflicting serious damage.
In essence, the device causes micro-wounds that stimulate the production of new collagen and elastin. Collagen and elastin production is essential for maintaining smooth, firm, and healthy-looking skin.
Morpheus8 takes microneedling a step further by boosting its effectiveness with RF (radiofrequency) energy. Regular microneedling devices are mostly limited to stimulating a robust healing response in the layers of skin reached by the needles. But Morpheus8 uses RF energy to target even deeper tissue than the needles can penetrate.
Morpheus8 can be extremely effective in minimizing the appearance of acne scars by stimulating collagen production and promoting skin cell turnover.
Laser Resurfacing
For clients who can afford to take a bit more downtime, laser resurfacing can improve the appearance of acne scars by vaporizing the outer layer of dead and damaged skin (or portions of it). As a result, younger and healthier skin cells are revealed underneath, and your body ramps up its collagen production as you heal.
Laser scar removal is a popular treatment for acne scars, but, depending on the device and settings, it can require some downtime. Some of our top laser resurfacing devices for acne scar removal in Philadelphia are Clear + Brilliant and Fraxel. Not only are these some of our most effective laser devices for acne scars, they’re also some of the most gentle.
SKINVIVE
SKINVIVE by Juvéderm is an injectable that takes a much different approach to minimizing the appearance of mild to moderate depressed acne scars. Instead of removing layers of skin or stimulating a healing response, SKINVIVE works by giving the treated skin a plumper appearance, and is thus used to even out skin texture.
This can be especially helpful when dealing with textural divots and when you want to enhance the overall hydration, volume, and appearance of your skin.
Chemical Peel
Like laser resurfacing, chemical peels can minimize acne scarring by removing the outermost layers of mostly dead and damaged skin cells. But unlike laser resurfacing, chemical peels don’t cause any thermal damage.
Chemical peels use concentrated ingredients like lactic acid, salicylic acid, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), retinoic acid, and vitamin C to cause that outer layer of skin to peel or flake away, revealing more youthful and less damaged skin underneath.
At About Face Aesthetics, we offer a large selection of chemical peels of varying depths and ingredients in order to better care for the diverse needs of our clients. Your experienced provider will determine the best chemical peel for you by assessing your skin and talking to you about your goals, desired timeframe, and the amount of downtime you can afford to take off.
In general, the lighter the peel, the less downtime. While less downtime is always a plus, lighter peels may deliver more subtle results than a medium or deep peel, which requires more extensive downtime for recovery and results to develop.
IPL
IPL (intense pulsed light) therapy is best suited for treating post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, but it can also be used to improve the overall appearance of skin and acne scars by stimulating collagen production.
Rather than removing the outer layer of skin like laser resurfacing, IPL treatments reduce excess pigment by targeting the pigment and pigment-producing cells directly without causing the amount of damage typically associated with laser resurfacing.
Exosomes
Exosomes are one of the most scientifically advanced skin treatments in existence, and they’re available at About Face Aesthetics. We offer exosome treatments (often in conjunction with other treatments) to stimulate collagen and elastin production at a cellular level.
Exosome therapy can improve the appearance of hyperpigmentation and acne scars, as well as the overall appearance of your skin, by boosting your body’s natural processes for cell repair.
Skincare Products
We offer an assortment of skincare products to help enhance and support your results for acne scar removal in Philadelphia. Your provider will need to assess your skin in person to be able to recommend a suitable product for your needs and goals.
That being said, Alastin A-Luminate Brightening Serum can often help reduce and prevent hyperpigmentation caused by acne.
Can Acne Scars Be Prevented?
Not all acne scars can be prevented, and neither can all forms of acne. But there are ways to minimize your chances of developing them. To help prevent acne and reduce the likelihood of scarring, we recommend:
- Using mineral-based makeup
- Not squeezing or popping pimples
- Cleansing your skin twice daily to prevent acne and promote healing
Get Started With Acne Scar Removal in Philadelphia
If you’re looking for an average, run-of-the-mill med spa, we can make some recommendations, but that’s about it. At About Face Aesthetics, we’re all about providing a personalized, one-of-a-kind experience.
When the best care meets the most effective and advanced aesthetic technology, you know you’re in for a transformative treat. You deserve nothing less than the best, and you shouldn’t have to settle for anything but the latest and greatest.
Exceeding your expectations is always our goal. No matter your age, gender, skin tone, and body type, we want you to be happy with your results, and most importantly, we want you to be happy with yourself.
Give us a call or send us a message if you’re ready to book an appointment or if you’d like to know more about getting acne scar removal in Philadelphia. We’d love to hear from you!
If you’re not quite ready to come in for a consultation, you can use our Virtual Consult tool to get instant treatment recommendations based on your needs and goals.
About Face is about you!