What we treat / Acne scars and texture
Acne Scars and Uneven Texture
Acne scars are a texture problem rather than a color one. Where the skin healed short of collagen it left a depression, and the shadow that falls into it is what you see in overhead light. Treatment works by prompting the skin to lay down new collagen in the floor of the scar so it lifts toward the surface. That takes a course of sessions, and the honest picture is meaningful improvement rather than erasure.
Why they happen
An inflamed spot damages the collagen around it. When the skin repairs, it sometimes rebuilds less than it lost, and the surface above that shortfall settles into a dip. Broad shallow ones are usually called rolling scars, sharper ones with defined edges are boxcar scars, and the two often sit side by side.
The redness or brown marks left after a spot are a separate thing entirely and usually fade on their own. It is worth knowing which of the two you actually have, because the marks that fade need patience rather than treatment.
How Dr. Mauer treats it
The main treatment
Microneedling
Very fine needles make controlled micro injuries through the scar floor, and the body repairs by laying down new collagen where it is missing. Most people need three to six sessions, spaced four to six weeks apart.
Read about microneedlingWhere texture is broader
Laser & Skin Resurfacing
Resurfacing treats the surface across a whole area rather than scar by scar, and it also addresses the tone and roughness that usually come with scarring. Your skin is assessed first so the depth suits your skin type.
Read about laser and skin treatmentsWhat to expect
- Appointment
- 45 to 60 minutes with numbing
- Course
- Most people need three to six sessions
- Spacing
- Four to six weeks apart
- Discomfort
- Numbing cream first, then pressure and heat
- Downtime
- Redness like sunburn for one to three days
- Visible
- Builds over months as collagen forms
Questions about acne scars and texture
Will the scars go completely?+
No, and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling. What is realistic is a meaningful reduction in how deep they read and how much shadow they catch, built over a course. Dr. Mauer will tell you at the consultation what your particular scars are likely to do.
How many sessions will I actually need?+
Most people need three to six, spaced four to six weeks apart. Scarring usually needs more sessions than plain texture does, and deeper scars need more than shallow ones.
Can I have this if I still get breakouts?+
Active acne needs settling first, because treating inflamed skin can make things worse rather than better. That is a sequencing question and it gets answered at the consultation.
Is it painful?+
Numbing cream goes on first and most people describe pressure and heat rather than sharp pain. The skin looks like mild sunburn for a day or two afterward.
