Why no single treatment fixes acne scarring, and how we build a 6-month protocol.
Acne scars are layered. Some are pigmented marks left behind after a breakout, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Some are textural, ice-pick, boxcar, or rolling scars. Some are both. No single treatment fixes all of them, and any clinic that says otherwise is overpromising.
We start every consultation by classifying the scars under good clinical lighting. Pigmented marks respond to brightening peels, fractional non-ablative laser, and a strict home protocol with tyrosinase inhibitors and daily SPF. Most fade significantly within three to six months of consistent care.
Textural scarring is harder. Ice-pick scars often need targeted TCA cross, a small amount of trichloroacetic acid placed precisely into each pit, repeated across several sessions. Boxcar and rolling scars respond better to RF microneedling, which combines mechanical injury with radiofrequency to stimulate remodelling at depth. We sequence these treatments with subcision for tethered scars when needed.
Pigment first, texture second. That is the rule. Treating texture while pigment is still active can worsen the pigmented component. We almost always start with two months of brightening and home care before moving to resurfacing.
The full protocol takes six to nine months, including four to six in-clinic sessions and a strict daily routine. Clients who follow the plan see meaningful change. Clients who skip the home care do not.
We do not promise complete clearance. We do promise a measurable improvement, scored at the start and at the end so we can both see the difference.
Bring photographs of your skin at its worst, before any treatment, to your consultation. The comparison six months later is often the most rewarding part of the work.