The effects acne has on a person’s psychosocial well-being has led to the development of more effective treatments to clear up blemishes. Unfortunately, about 95% of people with acne develop acne scars.
These permanent marks can have long-term effects on self-confidence and self-esteem, but there are effective treatments that can lessen the appearance of acne scars.
At Montclair Rejuvenation Center in Verona and West Caldwell, New Jersey, under the medical supervision of Dr. Kelly Distefano, our experienced team of aesthetic experts use microneedling to treat acne scars.
Here, we want to explain how microneedling works and how many sessions you might need to improve the look of your acne scars.
How acne scars form
Your skin is your body’s first layer of protection against outside elements. When you have a cut, your skin uses collagen fibers to quickly close the opening to prevent dirt and germs from getting in. The goal of your skin’s healing process is protection, not aesthetics.
When acne damages the deep layers of the skin, it uses the same process for healing. Depressed acne scars form when the skin under produces collagen and raised acne scars form when it over produces collagen.
Treating your acne is the best defense against the formation of acne scars. However, even with the best treatments available, you can still develop the scars. But you have treatment options that can fade the scars, like microneedling.
Microneedling and acne scars
Microneedling takes advantage of your skin’s healing process to improve the look, tone, and strength of your skin. The microneedling tool creates tiny puncture wounds in the surface of your skin, activating the skin’s natural repair process, encouraging the production of collagen without causing any real damage.
We primarily use microneedling to treat depressed acne scars. Encouraging collagen production fills in the depression, improving skin texture. But we may also use microneedling to break up the scar tissue that forms with raised acne scars.
Our microneedling device — Vivace® — combines microneedling with radiofrequency energy to enhance collagen production and improve results. We may also recommend adding platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to improve acne scar fading. PRP contains growth factors that may speed-up collagen production.
Getting results with microneedling
The number of microneedling sessions you need to improve your acne scars depends on the type and severity of your scarring. Our aesthetic experts customize plans after a consultation.
You may need three to five microneedling treatments every two to four weeks to get the best results. Research shows that microneedling can fade acne scars by as much as 70%. It takes time for your skin to rebuild collagen and results appear slowly over several months.
Microneedling is an effective treatment for acne scars. Let us help you love your skin. Call the office nearest you today or book an appointment online to schedule your consultation.
