Acne scarring is caused by inflamed blemishes with a build-up of excess oil and bacteria. These blemishes can cause pores to swell, breaking the wall of the pore and damaging surrounding tissue. The collagen in the skin will try to repair this damage, however the ‘repaired’ skin is unlikely to be as flawless as the original skin, therefore causing scarring or marking.

There are two types of acne scars: hypertrophic or keloid scarring, which cause a ‘lumpy’ mass of raised tissue, or atrophic or depressed scarring which develop through a loss of tissue, causing dips and holes in the skin.

While it is vitally important not to pick at or irritate acne scarring, there are also ways in which the depth and appearance of acne scars can be dramatically improved.

How can dermal fillers treat acne scars?

Dermal fillers can mainly be used to treat ‘depressed’ acne scars, so any scarring that has caused an indentation in the skin. These indentations can be raised in volume by using filler, bringing them back up to the surface level of the skin and therefore creating a smoother complexion. This is a minimally invasive treatment, and an effective alternative to surgery.

What to expect?

When treating acne scarring, it is important to carry out a full consultation in order to assess the scars being treated. Depending on the severity of the scars and the amount of scarring, the amount of filler and time taken for treatment may vary. We will always sit down with you to develop a full understanding of the treatment objectives.

In order to treat acne scarring, we would use a filler comprising of hyaluronic acid, which helps to revitalise skin and bring back moisture, elasticity and strength. At Elegant we use premium brands such as the Juvéderm range for dermal fillers.

When administering dermal fillers, we use filler products that contain a local anaesthetic to help the treatment feel more comfortable. We will also use a numbing cream to further eliminate any discomfort, and an ultra fine needle. There may be a slight stinging sensation during treatment, but this is quick to subside. The filler is injected just beneath the scarring.

There is little downtime following a dermal filler treatment for acne scarring, however we would advise that you take extra care with your skin and treat it with sensitivity. We have lots of skincare options and recommendations that we can personalise to suit your specific needs, ensuring that you have the best possible aftercare.

How long will they last?

Dermal fillers are not permanent, and how long they last can differ from patient to patient. Regardless of the filler being in place the skin will continue to naturally produce collagen, and one to four months after treatment the results will keep improving.

This will cause the skin’s texture to become even smoother over time, minimising the appearance of scarring. After around six months, maintenance treatments may be necessary to upkeep results.

What other alternatives can I use?

For some acne scarring, the scar indentations are too small to be treated with dermal fillers.

For small, textured scars we would recommend a chemical skin peel, which works to resurface the skin and reduce scarring. The peel component glutathione helps to increase cellular turnover, thus reducing stubborn acne scars. This method may require a series of treatments in order to reach optimum results, but our treatment with The Perfect Peel is proven to minimise acne damage.

If you would like to know more about our acne scarring treatments or see before and after photos, please do not hesitate to get in touch and book a consultation!