Sometimes you just want a story of hope.
Especially when you're dealing with life-long reminders of your acne on your face, back, arms or chest. All you want to know is, "Will my acne scars go away?”
Microneedling your acne scars could finally help you achieve the smooth, glowing skin you've been waiting for, so you can ditch the cover-up and dim lighting.
Keep reading if you've ever wondered can acne scars be removed because we've got good news for you.
What’s Acne Scarring?
Those deep pits or rolling texture on your face and body, as well as raised hypertrophic or keloid scars, can all be classified as acne scars.
Acne is the cause of your scars. However, if you pick or squeeze your acne or have cystic acne, you're more likely to develop scarring.
You might also notice dark patches of skin surrounding the indentation or raised areas. This is called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and is another skin concern caused by acne.
Types of Acne Scars
When you think of "acne scarring”, you may immediately think of deep pitted atrophic scars. But even within this category, there are 3 different types of scars.
Atrophic Acne Scar Types
Atrophic (or indented) scars are the most common type of acne scarring. You may have just a few of one of the following types or many different types.
Ice-pick scars are wider at the top and narrow to a point in the skin.
Box-car scars are similar, except they have a flat bottom and defined flat slides.
Rolling scars don’t show distinct cavities but give your skin a wave-like texture.
Hypertrophic Acne Scar Types
Acne can also lead to raised scars, just like any other trauma. There are 2 types of hypertrophic acne scars.
Hypertrophic scars are raised but still contained within the wound site.
Keloid scars are similar, but the scar tissue continues to grow beyond the original site.
The Importance of Dermapen Microneedling Acne Scars
First off, we’d better be clear: Dermapen Treatments™ involve more than “just” microneedling acne scars. But yes, when combined with the right products and performed to protocol, they can help reduce the visible appearance of your acne scars. Hooray!
What do we mean by “more than just microneedling”?
Don't be discouraged—this is a good thing! A Dermapen Treatment isn’t just a single microneedling procedure done with a Dermapen 4™ device, although that’s a common misunderstanding. Dermapen Treatment refers to a series of professional microneedling procedures together with a specially selected Meso-Glide serum and additional boosters. For example, the latter might include an ÜBER Peel or at-home microneedling with the Dermapen HOME.
A true Dermapen Treatment also includes a daily skincare prescription to give your skin the active ingredients it needs to help minimise the appearance of your acne scars.
Why this Comprehensive Approach is Important for Reducing Acne Scars
A holistic lens — Dermapen treatments offer consistent, long-term skin care, both in-clinic and at home. This all-around approach tackles the root causes of acne scars, promoting better and deeper healing while supporting other skin concerns like signs of ageing, congestion, dryness and enlarged pores.
A customised treatment plan — We know that everyone’s skin is different. That’s why each skin needling for acne treatment is tailored to your unique skin type and concerns, ensuring you get the best care and can effectively reduce the appearance of acne scars while tackling other pesky skin woes.
Supercharged results — You get the most out of your treatment by combining skin needling for acne scars with Dp Dermaceuticals creams, serums and boosters like the ÜBER Peel. Each skincare product we recommend is clinically formulated to support a healthy skin barrier, whether you’re dealing with acne scarring, congestion and pimple-prone areas or hoping to regulate oil production and lock in hydration for your glowiest skin.
Long-term skin improvement — The daily skincare routine provided as part of a Dermapen treatment helps your skin continue to improve between professional sessions — so you can easily maintain and enhance the results of your microneedling for acne scarring.
How Skin Needling For Acne Scars Works
Intrigued by the prospect of reduced acne scars, but wondering what to expect inside the clinic? Don’t worry, the initial consultation will be just that. Your Authorised Treatment Provider analyses your skin and determines a custom Dermapen Treatment using our proven Protocols as a guide.
During the microneedling procedure, they’ll glide the Dermapen 4 over the scarred region, using a Meso-Glide™ as a lubricant. This triggers a controlled wound healing response within the skin and stimulates collagen and elastin production.
The needles create thousands of microchannels in your skin, which close within moments. The restorative actives in the Meso-Glide are safely delivered deeper into the skin.
Why is a Dermapen Treatment a Safer Choice?
Other therapies promise to make your acne scars go away, so you might be debating whether to choose microneedling.
But ablative technologies, dermabrasion, or deep chemical peels can often result in thinning of the epidermis and a loss of dermal papillae. They can also damage melanocytes, which can result in post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Dermapen Treatments regulate and balance the wound healing process for seamless, scarless healing with virtually no risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. It’s safe and effective for all Fitzpatrick skin types.
Additional Benefits of Dermapen Microneedling for Acne Scars
Minimal downtime
Unlike more invasive treatments, skin needling for acne scars requires minimal recovery time. Patients can typically resume normal activities within a few hours post-treatment, making it a convenient option for those who demand skin-enhancing results but lead a busy lifestyle.
Precision and control
Microneedling pens allow for precise control over the depth and intensity of the treatment. This customisation ensures that each session is tailored to the severity and depth of the individual’s acne scarring, reducing the risk of over-treatment and associated complications.
Stimulates natural healing for prolonged results
As we know, microneedling creates micro-perfurations in the skin, which stimulates the body’s natural healing process and supercharges the production of collagen and elastin — two vital proteins that form the building blocks of hair, skin and nails. This means you’ll see consistent results over a much longer period, so you can say goodbye to acne and hello to clear and radiant skin.
Boosted product absorption
The micro-channels created during skin needling for acne significantly improve the absorption of topical treatments applied during and after the procedure. This improves the effectiveness of your twice-daily skincare routine, allowing serums, creams and masks to penetrate deeper into the skin.
Minimal side effects
Compared to more aggressive cosmetic treatments that require downtime from daily life, microneedling is typically associated with fewer side effects. While you may experience short-term swelling, redness, skin flaking and slight sensitivity, you can kickstart the healing process by staying hydrated for optimal skin moisture and wearing sunscreen with a high SPF count.
It’s important to note that your skin will be prone to sensitivity following skin needling for acne, so it’s always best to avoid excessive sun exposure in the weeks following. During your first week of recovery, we also suggest avoiding skincare products and exfoliants with harsh actives and cutting down on intense exercise or visits to the sauna, as these activities result in excess sweating.
The Dermapen 4™ Difference
If you’re excited about your first microneedling procedure, but thinking about using an imitation model or doing it yourself at home, don’t skip this part!
The Dermapen 4™ creates around 104% more micro channels than the average counterfeit device, meaning superior results for you. The built-in Anti-Contamination Management™ system and fluid guard mechanisms make it the safest device ever.
Then there’s the exclusive Scar Treatment setting that allows for superior scar revision protocols and treatment results. Not only can the needles penetrate up to 3mm, but the pen automatically calibrates the motor speed, pressure and penetration for targeted precision.
In short, when you compromise on an inferior device, you risk compromising your skin.
So, Is Microneedling Acne Scars Worth It?
Only you can answer that question. But here's another way to think about it. You know that what you've been doing so far isn't working. You're probably sick of buying every scar cream under the sun only to be disappointed time and time again.
If you’re nodding your head, maybe it’s time to try something different. And it’s worth knowing that Dermapen Treatments don’t just help smooth scars. They allow for simultaneous targeting of multiple concerns, thanks to adjustable needle depth and oscillation speed.
That means if you have active acne or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, your Dermapen Treatment could help improve the look of those concerns in addition to your scars.
Get the Best Results
We mentioned a skin prescription a little earlier, so let's dive into what this means for your skin. As part of a Dermapen Treatment, you'll be advised to support your results by applying a twice-daily routine of Dp Dermaceuticals—the non-negotiables when microneedling. This revolutionary skincare line was developed expressly for microneedling and delivers the right balance of purest form and clinically developed ingredients to the correct areas of the skin.
Can’t I Just Microneedle at Home?
For acne scars? The short answer is no. But here’s the extended version…
To effectively reduce the appearance of scars, it’s likely that the needles will need to penetrate up to 3mm. These depths should only ever be reached in a clinical setting. At-home microneedling is a fantastic way to support your results between clinical procedures. The Dermapen HOME device's deepest setting is 0.5mm to help keep you safe and get your optimal results.
Another reason to consult a professional is that each skin response is unique. A professional consultation will establish:
Procedural intervals
Needle depth
Technique
How many procedures are required
Complementary therapies (such as an ÜBER peel)
Homecare
In short, your best chance for reducing the appearance of your acne is by consulting a professional. Some acne scars (such as keloids) should only ever be microneedled by experienced practitioners.
Your Acne Scars Can Go Away
It might take a little patience and perseverance, but it's possible to microneedle your acne-scarred complexion back to a smoother, flatter and more glowing surface. Put a plan in place to get the skin you’re dreaming of. Your first step is to talk to an Authorised Treatment Provider.
If you are a professional and wish to learn how to become a DermapenWorld Authorised Treatment Provider, click here.
