Ask the Acne Expert: How Soon After I Develop a New Acne Scar Should I Come in for Treatment?
How soon after I develop a new acne scar should I come in for treatment?
Dr. Schweiger explains that, “It is best to visit your dermatologist for treatment prior to developing acne scars. You can begin in-office physical treatments for acne, as well as at-home treatments to prevent acne scars from forming. However, once you develop an acne scar, you should visit your dermatologist right away for treatment. Early intervention is always best and will leave you with the most options for acne scar treatment.”
Treatments for new acne scars include:
Fractional CO2 Laser: The Fractional CO2 laser treatment stimulates that production of healthy collagen to fill in the acne scar. Improvement can be dramatic, with up to 70% improvement being appreciated within one week of a single treatment. The F.A.S.T. method of treatment can be used to address a new acne scar, meaning that only the new scar is treated, rather than the entire face. This results in faster healing time and the ability for us to perform a stronger treatment on the localized area of scarring.
KTP laser: New acne scars often present as reddish marks on the skin, rather than true pitted acne scars. The KTP laser can reduce the appearance of redness on the skin after just one to three treatments.
Chemical peels: Chemical peels can address post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, the brown spots that stick around on the skin after acne improves. Certain types of chemical peels can also be used to smooth out the skin when pitted acne scarring occurs.
