Acne Scar Treatments

Conveniently located to serve the areas of Rancho Cucamonga, CA

A specialized acne scar treatment is an effective way to diminish the appearance of acne scars, improve skin texture, resurface skin layers, and stimulate collagen production.

Channell Wellness & Aesthetics, led by Dr. Patricia Guevara-Channell, combines integrative medicine with non-surgical aesthetic treatments to help patients feel and look their best. Dr. Channell offers advanced treatments to diminish acne scarring and other skin concerns, resulting in a youthful, smooth, and vibrant appearance. To explore your treatment options and transform your skin, contact us online or call our office at (909) 483-1236.

About Acne Scarring

Acne forms when skin cells block pores instead of shedding properly. This causes them to become clogged with oil (sebum), allowing bacteria to grow and triggering an inflammatory response as the body tries to fight bacteria. The result is red and inflamed bumps on the skin, filled with pus. After it rises to the surface or dissolves, a dark spot is often left behind—this is the acne scar.

This causes self-consciousness in many patients. (1,2) Acne scarring is common and can occur even with effective acne management, often appearing as pitted, sunken, or raised spots on the face, chest, or back. Fortunately, Dr. Channell offers several different treatments that can help address these concerns and smooth, hydrate, and revitalize the skin.

Acne Scar Treatment Options

Channell Wellness & Aesthetics offers treatments that can clear acne scars and smooth the skin, especially after intense breakouts leave facial scarring. These treatments include:

Laser Scar Removal

Laser scar removal uses focused light energy to significantly reduce the appearance of scars from acne, injury, or other medical procedures. Laser scar removal can also treat hypertrophic, deep atrophic, and reddish-purple vascular scarring. This advanced light therapy improves texture and reduces hyperpigmentation to create an even skin complexion. This acne treatment is ideal for patients with noticeable scarring that causes physical or emotional difficulties and who desire a smooth complexion after consistent breakouts.

Chemical Peels

A chemical peel is a non-invasive treatment that uses chemical agents to remove small layers of damaged skin. This treatment targets both the epidermis and the dermis, removing the top layer of skin and encouraging cell turnover. As the peel removes the outer layers, it reveals the bright, unaffected layers beneath. This results in clearer, softer, and more evenly textured skin. A chemical peel is ideal for patients who are experiencing acne flare-ups or mild facial scarring and who are struggling with fine lines or hyperpigmentation.

Microneedling

Microneedling treats acne scarring by using fine needles to create controlled, microscopic injuries to trigger the body’s natural wound-healing process. Microneedling stimulates collagen and elastin production to repair the skin, which helps fill in wrinkles, reduce acne scars, and improve skin firmness. Microneedling is a favorable choice for treating acne scarring, as it is gentle, easy to incorporate into a busy schedule, and it creates a healthier and thicker dermal layer. (2)

Laser Skin Resurfacing

Laser skin resurfacing targets acne scarring with concentrated light beams that remove damaged skin layers and stimulate collagen and elastin production. Ablative lasers generate heat and light energy, which vaporizes the outer layer of the skin and heats the underlying tissue to stimulate collagen growth. Non-ablative lasers are less intense and heat the underlying skin without damaging or removing the surface skin layer. These laser treatments smooth skin texture, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, increase collagen production, and diminish acne scarring.

Exion

Exion is a skin rejuvenation treatment that uses radiofrequency (RF), microneedling, ultrasonic energy, and artificial intelligence to diminish fine lines and wrinkles all at once. This treatment uses precise needle depths to reduce discomfort and shorten the procedure length. The incorporated AI technology also allows for real-time feedback and adjustment, making treatment both safer and more precise. Exion makes micropunctures in the skin and heats the skin layers, which creates new collagen, blood vessels, and elastin fibers. This reduces acne scars, hyperpigmentation, and photodamage, creating a youthful, clear, and luminous complexion.

Benefits

Acne scar treatments offer many benefits beyond just diminishing the appearance of scars. These treatments enhance your skin by:

  • Boosting collagen and elastin production
  • Improving skin texture and tone
  • Reducing redness and hyperpigmentation
  • Restoring hydration
  • Promoting new cell growth
  • Reducing inflammation
  • Exfoliating damaged skin layers
  • Diminishing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
  • Reducing rosacea

Candidates

If you are experiencing acne scarring after a breakout, have raised scarring, or are struggling with mild skin laxity or hyperpigmentation, you may be an ideal candidate for acne scar treatments. Active acne can reduce the effectiveness of these treatments, so Dr. Channell asks that you wait until a breakout settles. You must also be off of isotretinoin (Accutane) for at least six months, and you should not have any active rashes, infections, or sunburns in the treatment area. You must also be in relatively good health, be a non-smoker (or willing to quit), and hold realistic expectations for your results.

Personal Consultation

Addressing your acne scars begins with a personal consultation. Here, Dr. Channell will evaluate your medical history, ask about any prior skin procedures, and review your current skincare routine. She will also examine your face and the severity of your acne and acne scarring to determine which treatment will be most effective. After evaluating your skin, she will create a personalized treatment plan that includes the ideal acne scar treatment to transform your skin. Dr. Channell will also address any questions or concerns you may have. Her goal is to make you feel as comfortable and confident as possible before beginning your treatment. If you are ready to transform your skin and clear your acne scars, contact us online or call our office at (909) 483-1236 to schedule your personal consultation.

Preparation

Effective preparation helps your skin to better respond to your acne scar treatment, which will optimize your results and your recovery. Preparation may vary between patients depending on the treatment they receive and the degree of their concerns, but in general, Dr. Channell advises:

  • Managing active acne before starting treatment
  • Avoiding sun exposure and protect your skin with SPF 30+ sunscreen
  • Discontinuing the use of retinols, retinoids, or glycolic acid products
  • Avoiding blood-thinning medications or supplements
  • Arriving at your appointment with a clean face free of lotions, makeup, or sunscreen
  • Maintaining your hydration levels

Results and Recovery

Acne treatment procedures usually take anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the severity of concerns in the treatment area. After your acne treatment, you may notice redness, peeling or flaking skin, tightness, and mild swelling. These symptoms usually subside between two and a week, but for more intense treatments, redness can last up to a month or more. Although improvements are visible after one session, most patients require multiple sessions to achieve their desired results. Final results develop gradually as collagen and elastin continue to build. Your skin may be sensitive during your initial recovery. You must wear sunscreen and avoid excessive sun exposure, UV rays, and tanning beds.

You will also need to refrain from heavy exfoliation, makeup use, and harsh chemical skincare products. Instead, only use gentle skincare products, mild, non-fragranced soaps, and warm, clean water.

As redness and other effects subside, your acne scar treatment results will appear. You will see smooth, tight, and clear skin, free from significant scarring. These treatments will also diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and redness, and sun damage, leading to long-term vibrancy and smoothness that boosts self-confidence.

Cost of Acne Scar Treatment in Rancho Cucamonga, CA

The cost of your acne scar treatment depends on the severity of your concerns, your goals, and how many treatment sessions you require. Dr. Channell will provide a cost outline for your procedure during your personal consultation. She also offers financing options to make your skin transformation journey more accessible. Contact us online or call our office at (909) 483-1236 to schedule your personal consultation and rejuvenate your skin!

FAQ

How do acne scar treatments diminish scarring?

Acne scar treatments target the deeper layers of the skin with laser therapy, microneedling, chemical peels, and more. These trigger the body’s healing responses to promote collagen and elastin production and to resurface the skin, resulting in improved texture and an even skin tone.

Are acne scar treatment results permanent?

Acne treatments can provide long-lasting results. After your first acne scar treatment, you may require more sessions to see dramatically clearer skin. The best way to prolong your improvements is to maintain an effective skincare routine, consistently wear sunscreen, and practice healthy lifestyle habits.

How much do acne scar treatments cost?

The cost of your acne scar treatment varies depending on the severity of your concerns, whether or not you have additional skin concerns, and the total number of sessions you will require. Dr. Channell will provide a cost outline and help you explore financing options during your personal consultation.

Can acne scar treatments target other skin concerns?

Yes, acne scar treatments can target other skin concerns like hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, dark spots, rosacea, and more!

How long does an acne scar treatment procedure take?

Acne scar treatments usually take anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the severity of your scarring and whether you are targeting other skin concerns simultaneously.

References

  1. Shen YC, Chiu WK, Kang YN, Chen C. Microneedling Monotherapy for Acne Scar: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Published online April 14, 2022. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-022-02845-3
  2. Jennings T, McLarney M, Renzi M, et al. Acne scarring-pathophysiology, diagnosis, prevention and education – Part 1. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Published online July 2022. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2022.04.021