Skin care

A new year, a new you. The best acne scarring treatments in Melbourne

Article medically reviewed by Dr. Gavin Chan (MBBS, cosmetic doctor, liposuctionist)

Templestowe Lower, Berwick and Beaumaris Clinics

Dr. Gavin Chan has a background in intensive care, anaesthesia, and emergency medicine. Since 2005, Dr. Chan has provided cosmetic procedures, including anti-wrinkle injections, dermal fillers, liposuction and laser treatments. He is a doctor trainer for various dermal fillers and anti-wrinkle injections. Read More

The start of a New Year is a time when resolutions are made and goals are set. You may be applying for a new job, starting a business, seeking a promotion or re-entering the workforce. Or maybe you just want to reinvent yourself. To debut the best version of you this New Year, it’s important to look and feel good. You visit the hairdresser, get a manicure and wear clothes and shoes that make you feel confident.

But you may catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and your heart sinks. All you can see is your scars from acne staring back at you. But you’re not alone. Acne scarring affects more people than you may think. These treatments can help resolve your acne scars.

acne scars

What is acne scarring?

Acne appears when your skin pores get filled with dead skin cells, bacteria and oil. When your pores become inflamed and burst, some pore walls rupture deeper into the skin and leak into deep tissues, creating larger lesions. Acne scarring occurs while your body creates collagen to repair your skin damage.

The type of acne scars you have will depend on your skin type. Hypertrophic scarring adds tissue and results from excessive collagen production during the healing process. Atrophic scarring occurs when tissue is lost during your skin’s healing process. “Ice pick” and “boxcar” scars are common types of atrophic acne scars.

How to treat acne scars

Since 2005, the Victorian Cosmetic Institute has helped thousands of people resolve their acne scarring. Our acne scar treatment options include laser treatment, skin needling, dermal fillers and skin therapy treatment that includes skin care and resurfacing procedures.

All our acne scar treatments are matched to the type of acne you have, your skin type, and the recovery time you have got. We understand it can be overwhelming when researching acne scar treatments. This acne scarring comparison table may help you.

Laser treatments to reduce scars from acne

Our laser treatments for scars from acne include fractional laser treatment like the fractional CO2 lasers and the Fraxel or non-fractional laser resurfacing with the carbon dioxide or erbium lasers. The type of lasers used to reduce scars from acne will depend on your skin type and condition, plus the amount of recovery down time you have available.

Non-fractional lasers remove the top layer of your skin, which results in the growth of new skin and a reduction in the appearance of scarring. This type of laser resurfacing will address your acne scars and can improve the appearance of sun damaged and wrinkled skin. You may be eligible for Medicare rebates with erbium and carbon dioxide lasers. This very effective treatment has a two-week recovery period.

Rather than treating your whole skin surface, fractional laser treatment uses small columns of energy to treat acne scars. The deeper penetration into the skin than non-fractional lasers gives you a faster healing time.

Skin needling to treat your acne scars

Victorian Cosmetic Institute offers many forms of skin needling including traditional, Infini RF and micropen. The Infini RF is a non-laser treatment, which combines micro needling and radiofrequency to improve scarring from acne, fine lines and wrinkles. The Infini RF is equally effective in fair skin types but is especially suited to the treatment of darker or olive skin types. There is minimal risk of causing hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation post treatment because the energy is delivered from inside the skin, not from outside the skin like laser treatments.

The fractional micro delivery provided by Infini RF results in micro injuries to the dermis and epidermis. These micro injuries to the skin boost the power of your body’s ability to repair and re-grow normal skin. You can read more about the benefits of Infini RF Needling here.

Dermal fillers and fat transfer to reduce acne scars

Dermal fillers treat acne scars that are deep or indented by lifting the area to align the skin surface with that of the remainder of the skin

Fat transfers from your abdomen, thighs or hips can also be used to inject under the affected areas. This treatment option provides additional volume while the stem cells boost your skin’s regeneration process. We can also combine fat transfers with skin needling and laser treatments.

Skin care treatment for acne

Acne commonly produces a change in your skin pigmentation and tone. If you have active acne, it can be beneficial to use medical grade skin care. Retinoids or the equivalent of Vitamin A are helpful in promoting skin turnover and reducing keratinisation (which can block your skin pores). You can see our range of Vitamin A skincare here

To reduce your post acne skin tone changes, it is recommended you use a non-comodogenic sunscreen. You can get our recommended non-comodogenic sunscreens here

Let us help you find the right acne scar treatment

The treatment of acne scars varies from person to person. Our doctors are highly experienced in the treatment of acne scarring and can help you decide which treatment best suits you and your skin type and condition.

At an initial skin consultation with one of our doctors we will discuss with you realistic and achievable outcomes for your acne scar treatment, what to expect from the treatment and the amount of downtime you will need.

Call us on 1300 863 824 or complete our contact form to Arrange your consultation.

Head here to find out more about how our acne scar treatments can help you.