Breakouts & Congestion
Acne Scars
Textural damage left behind after inflammation — icepick, boxcar, rolling or raised scarring.
01
What it is
Acne scarring is permanent structural change in the dermis following inflammatory acne. Atrophic scars (icepick, boxcar, rolling) sit below the surrounding skin; hypertrophic and keloid scars sit above it.
Red or brown marks left after a breakout are not scars — they are post-inflammatory erythema or pigmentation, and they resolve on a different timeline with different treatment.
02
Why it happens
- Inflammation destroys collagen and the follicular wall; the repair response either under-produces collagen (atrophic) or over-produces it (hypertrophic).
- Delayed acne treatment, picking or extracting at home, and genetic wound-healing tendencies all increase scarring depth.
03
The layer involved
Structure
Dermis — collagen architecture and fibrous tethers
Rolling scars are tethered to the deeper dermis by fibrous bands; boxcar and icepick scars are collagen volume loss. Treatment must reach the dermis, not the surface.
04 · What may help
Treatments we may consider
Indicative only. Which of these belong in your plan — and in what order — is decided at your skin analysis, never from a page.
Tighten & Remodel
RF Microneedling
Radiofrequency energy delivered into the dermis for powerful tightening and scar remodelling.
Deep Skin Remodelling
Fractional Laser
Micro-beams of laser energy rebuild scarred, lax or damaged skin from the inside out.
Collagen Induction
Skin Needling
Refine texture, soften scarring and reduce pore size through natural collagen renewal.
Precision Ablative Resurfacing
2940 Er:YAG Laser
Erbium's ultra-precise wavelength resurfaces damaged skin with minimal residual heat.
05 · When we may need a medical assessment
Some things belong with a doctor first.
- Active acne still present — scarring treatment is deferred until the skin is stable.
- Raised, thickened or keloid scarring, which can worsen with the wrong energy device.
- Scarring in deeper skin tones, where laser settings require careful medical-grade assessment to avoid pigment change.
This page is general education, not medical advice. If anything here sounds like your skin, we will tell you honestly at consultation whether we can help or whether you should see your GP or dermatologist first.