Acne is one of the most common skin conditions. While it typically occurs during the teen years, adults can also experience breakouts. Blemishes can make you feel self-conscious about your appearance. Even after breakouts get better, the affected skin may be discolored or have deep scars, such as ice pick scars, that linger for years.
There are effective, non-invasive ways to improve the appearance of ice pick acne scars. A skincare professional can help you choose the right laser treatment for ice pick acne scars.
What Are Ice Pick Acne Scars?
Ice pick acne scars are small, deep indentations that form on the skin after a blemish heals. They look like tiny punctures as if a sharp, narrow object pierced the skin, and can sometimes appear as enlarged pores. When a lot of them develop on the skin, they can create an uneven, pitted appearance.
What Causes Ice Pick Acne Scars?
Ice pick scars may appear after severe breakouts, especially those involving cysts or papules. These blemishes can damage both the surface and deeper layers of the skin. Insufficient collagen production during healing can result in small indentations in the skin.
How Does Laser For Ice Pick Acne Scars Work?
The goal of ice pick scar treatment is to smooth out the skin and reduce the appearance of indentations. Treatments that promote collagen production can make the skin look plumper and more even, helping to minimize scars. Laser treatment for ice pick scars can effectively reduce their appearance and improve overall skin texture.
Ablative laser treatments are one option for reducing the appearance of acne scars. These treatments involve skin resurfacing, where lasers remove the outer layer of the skin to stimulate the healing process. Recovery can take several weeks, as the treatment usually causes significant scabbing. During this time, you should limit activities to allow proper healing.
Non-ablative laser treatments offer a less invasive option for treating acne scars. These milder treatments target the tissue beneath the surface of the skin, applying heat to stimulate healing without removing any epidermal layers. In the months following treatment, your body produces extra collagen in the affected areas, helping to plump the skin and create a smoother, less pitted appearance.
Which Laser Treatments Help With Ice Pick Acne Scars?
Choosing the right laser treatment is key to getting a good result with ice pick acne scars. At Laser by Monica, we offer treatment with AdvaLight. Our proprietary ADVATx scan utilizes dual wavelengths of yellow and infrared light to deliver multiple skin-smoothing effects. It reduces redness and discoloration associated with scarring while stimulating collagen production. These combined effects help reduce acne scars, improve skin tone, and boost volume for a plumper, smoother look.
AdvaLight can also reduce sebum production; this can help prevent future breakouts and lower the risk of additional scarring. You may start to see results after your first laser treatment, with more noticeable improvements after several treatments spaced four to six weeks apart.
Other Options for Minimizing Ice Pick Scars
Other treatments can help minimize the appearance of ice pick acne scars. Effective treatments either stimulate collagen production or resurface the skin through exfoliation.
Chemical Peels
Facials and chemical peels can provide mild resurfacing effects by removing the skin’s top layers. Superficial peels—sometimes called “lunchtime peels”—result in fresher, brighter skin after a short healing period. The exfoliating effects can help reduce the appearance of acne scars.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion, which is also an exfoliating treatment, uses specialized tools to buff away dead skin cells. It can be combined with serum application to boost the effects of exfoliation and leave the skin bright and moisturized. While its effects on acne scars may be subtle, microdermabrasion can help reduce their appearance and improve the overall look of the skin.
LED Treatments
LED therapy uses waves of specific hues (usually red or blue) to stimulate the skin’s natural healing processes. Research shows that LED therapy can increase circulation, fight acne-causing bacteria, decrease inflammation, and accelerate tissue repair. These benefits lead to improved skin tone and texture, which can help reduce the appearance of acne scars.
Laser by Monica Provides Personalized Acne Scarring Treatment
You may benefit from a combination of treatments for ice pick acne scars. Using multiple approaches can maximize collagen production and skin resurfacing for the most comprehensive results. The team at Laser by Monica can work with you to achieve your skincare goals by selecting the best combination of treatments tailored to your personal needs.
Contact us today to learn how we use AdvaLight therapy and other techniques to treat ice pick acne scars. Our experts provide customized treatments that can reduce the appearance of acne scars, prevent future breakouts, and help you achieve your skin goals.