Acne Scar Treatment

To treat acne scars effectively, it helps to know what they are. A true acne scar is not a stain on the surface; it is an indentation left behind when a breakout damaged the collagen structure under the skin. That is why creams alone rarely fix them, since the problem sits below the surface.

The treatments that work reduce scars by rebuilding that lost collagen. Microneedling and sublative radiofrequency microneedling create thousands of tiny, controlled micro-injuries in the skin, which switches on your body’s natural repair response and prompts it to lay down fresh collagen and elastin. Over a series of sessions, that new collagen gradually fills in and smooths the indentation from below, a process often called collagen induction.

Chemical peels work in a complementary way, resurfacing the top layers to soften rough texture and fade the flat brown or red marks, known as post-inflammatory pigmentation, that acne often leaves. Our NPs explain the evidence behind this in their guide, does microneedling work for acne scars. Every treatment at Express Med Spa is performed by a licensed nurse practitioner.

Acne scarring is rarely just one thing, so we match the tool to the type of scar and often combine them:

• Microneedling rebuilds collagen to lift and smooth indented scars, and is a workhorse for rolling and boxcar scarring and general texture.
• Sublative radiofrequency microneedling adds radiofrequency heat to the micro-needling, delivering energy deeper into the skin to reach more stubborn or deeper scars.
• Chemical peels resurface the upper layers to smooth roughness and fade the brown and red marks left after breakouts, and they pair well with collagen treatments.

Indented scars improve most from the collagen-building treatments because they rebuild volume under the scar, while surface texture and discoloration improve most with resurfacing. Combining the two is usually the most effective approach, and your nurse practitioner will design the mix at your consultation.

The most common question we hear is whether to choose microneedling or a chemical peel. The honest answer is that they solve different problems, and the best choice depends on what your scarring actually looks like.

Microneedling and RF microneedling work in the deeper layers to rebuild collagen, so they are the right tools for indented scars, the pitted, rolling, and boxcar texture that sits below the surrounding skin. Radiofrequency microneedling adds heat to reach deeper, making it useful for more stubborn scarring that plain microneedling has not fully resolved.

Chemical peels work at the surface, so they are strongest on rough texture and on the flat brown or red discoloration that lingers after a breakout heals. Because most people have a mix of indentation and discoloration, the best plan is often a combination, using collagen-building sessions for depth and peels for tone. Your NP will map the sequence to your skin at your visit.

Acne scar treatment rewards patience, because it works with your body’s own collagen-building timeline. Most people need a series of roughly three to six sessions spaced several weeks apart, and the results keep developing for months after each session as new collagen matures.

Here is the honest part we tell every patient: true indented acne scars can be dramatically improved, but they are very rarely erased 100 percent. Any clinic promising to completely remove deep scars in one session is overpromising. What is realistic, and what most people are thrilled with, is skin that is noticeably smoother and more even, with scars that are shallower and far less noticeable in everyday light.

One thing that matters for timing: if you are still actively breaking out, it is usually best to get the acne itself under control first, because new breakouts can create new scars. Our acne treatment is designed for that step, and once your skin has calmed, scar treatment can begin in earnest.

An acne scar treatment visit is straightforward. For microneedling or radiofrequency microneedling, we first apply a numbing cream so you are comfortable, then pass the device over the scarred areas so the tiny needles can do their work. For a chemical peel, the solution is applied and neutralized in the office. Most visits run about 45 to 60 minutes including numbing time.

Downtime is short and predictable. After microneedling, most people have redness and a feeling like a mild sunburn for one to two days, and after a peel the skin may flake lightly for a few days as it renews. You can usually return to normal activities the next day, and we will give you simple aftercare instructions to protect the results.

Every treatment at Express Med Spa is performed by a licensed nurse practitioner, at our locations in Frankfort, La Grange, Shorewood, and Mount Greenwood, easy to reach from across the Chicago southwest suburbs, including the Naperville area. At your consultation we will confirm the right plan for your scars and your skin.