If you’re dealing with stubborn acne scarring that’s affecting your confidence and quality of life, you’re not alone. This 2023 systematic review found that those with post-acne scarring experience lower self-esteem than those who have endured acne without the scarring.
Furthermore, delayed treatment worsens the severity of the scarring, compounding the mental effects. For optimal results, both cosmetic and emotional, now is the best time to take action.
Here at Dutch Hollow Medical Day Spa, the premier med spa in Southern Illinois that is led by Dr. Samuel Figueroa, microneedling is a popular and effective solution.
Acne scars develop as a result of inflammation and damage to the skin's deeper layers as acne lesions heal. When the body produces too little or too much collagen during this process, it can lead to the formation of depressed or raised scars, respectively.
While there are a handful of different types of acne scars, you can usually divide them into two categories: atrophic and hypertrophic. Atrophic, or depressed, scars create a small indentation in the skin, while hypertrophic (raised) scars create small protrusions at the former acne site.
Side note: If you’re experiencing discoloration after acne with no changes to skin texture, that is post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, not acne scarring. This is generally easier to handle, but we provide effective treatments for both hyperpigmentation and scarring alike.
Microneedling uses fine needles to create tiny punctures in your skin's surface. This controlled injury stimulates your skin’s natural healing process, initiating the production of collagen and elastin that smooths out unwanted texture.
Many of our patients opt for microneedling over other procedures due to its versatility and ability to treat any severity of acne scarring without being invasive. Some other advantages include:
As with any cosmetic or medical procedure, it’s important to be as educated as possible so you can feel comfortable and confident in your treatment plan, which is of the utmost importance to us as your providers.
Microneedling is performed with a handheld manual device called a dermaroller. This may sound familiar to you; at-home dermarolling has increased in popularity over the last few years. Many of these devices may be marketed to you as a convenient do-it-yourself treatment.
However, we strongly caution you against trying to perform microneedling or dermarolling on yourself. The dermarollers marketed to the public aren’t as effective as what we have in-office. Furthermore, at-home users are at high risk of making their scarring worse.
If at-home dermarolling is something you’re still curious about incorporating into your skin care routine, it’s imperative that you consult us before experimenting with needles on your skin, especially since the skin is already in a compromised position.
Furthermore, some forms of acne scarring may respond better to microneedling than others. The most common form of acne scarring is atrophic, or depressed scars. These are treated very effectively by dermarolling since they signal a lack of collagen production.
While we also sometimes treat raised acne scars with microneedling, it’s important that we take a close look at your skin so we can recommend the best course of action for you. Many individuals also have a mix of depressed and raised scars and need a tailored approach.
Our patients typically see full results with 3-5 treatments, each 30 minutes long, spaced 4-6 weeks apart. If you’re in or near Godfrey, Illinois, schedule a consultation with us to get personalized treatment for your acne scarring from Dr. Figueroa and our skin professionals.
