Treating Keloid Acne Scars: What are the Best Treatments?
Acne scars most often looks like tiny indentations on the skin, but sometimes the reverse can occur. Most commonly seen on the back and chest, keloid acne scars are another type of acne scars that we often treat at the Clear Clinic. Keloidal scars are thick, raised scars, which are usually very red in appearance. They may even feel slightly tender to the touch, and they do not improve on their own over time.
There are a few methods used to treat keloid acne scars. Depending on the location and appearance of the acne scar, we may recommend a series of cortisone injections or a laser resurfacing treatment. Dr. Schweiger explains that, “It is common for keloidal scars to be present in the same area as pitted acne scars and pigment changes from acne. For this reason, we often recommend treatment with the Fractional CO2 laser, which addresses all of these issues. The laser works by stimulating healthy collagen production to replace the scarred skin.”
Cortisone injections can also be used to treat keloidal acne scars, particularly when the scars are very thick and firm, and only a few of them are present. This situation often occurs with keloidal scars on the chest and back. A short series of cortisone injections is usually sufficient to flatten out the keloidal scar, though the redness of the scar can remain. The best treatments for keloidal scars include cortisone injections and fractional CO2 laser resurfacing, your dermatologist will recommend which of these treatments is most appropriate for your scars.
