Have you finally overcome a persistent bout of breakouts and severe acne but now find your skin is left with distressing acne scars and dark spots? No doubt, battling acne can already be a long and hard task, but the scarring, discoloration, and spots that persist long after acne has resolved are sometimes even worse. 

Fortunately, with a little help from our skin professionals and game-changing treatments, the look of acne scars and dark spots can be significantly improved—and sometimes even completely erased! 

We asked our dermatologists to put together a quick list of the best treatments available today that help improve the appearance of acne scars and dark spots! Read their recommendations below. 

 

Top Treatments for Acne Scars and Dark Spots

Microneedling

The benefits of microneedling go far beyond its ability to improve wrinkles and fine lines, under-eye circles, and enhance delivery and absorption of select product lines. Microneedling can also help those who are dealing with troublesome scars, dark spots, and discoloration caused by acne. 

In fact, according to a 2015 study, patients that tried microneedling treatments for acne scars found the look of their post-acne scarring showed “good to very good” improvement after just 3 months of treatments! 

So how does microneedling work for acne scars and dark spots? This innovative treatment stimulates the skin’s repair process — increasing collagen and elastin — to improve skin tone and texture, which smoothes out scars and reduces the look of hyperpigmentation (aka dark spots and discoloration). 

Learn more about the microneedling treatment procedure in this post on treatments for anti-aging!

 

Retin-A 

Retin-A, along with other prescription-based vitamin-A derivative medications (like Differin gel), are some of the most commonly prescribed topical medications for acne.

However, retinol-based medications aren’t only great for reducing breakouts and severe acne. They can also be incredibly effective at addressing certain types of acne scarring, discoloration, dark spots, and uneven skin texture. 

Retin-A works to improve the appearance of acne scars and discoloration by speeding up cell turnover, increasing collagen production, and boosting the creation of elastin-building cells. 

 

Chemical Peels 

While a chemical peel might initially sound scary, especially if you’re wary about putting things like “chemicals” on your face, just know this type of cosmetic treatment is both safe and very effective.

In fact, chemical peels are great for those dealing with skin conditions like acne scars and discoloration, uneven skin tone and texture, wrinkles and fine lines, and even signs of sun damage. 

So what is a chemical peel? It’s a type of cosmetic treatment where a certified physician applies a chemical solution with exfoliating properties to the skin. This chemical solution eliminates dead skin, excess oil, and irritating debris, as well as works on a cellular level, to reveal newer, smoother, and clearer skin. 

 

Dermal Fillers 

Dermal fillers tend to be a go-to treatment for those who want to fill out deep wrinkles, enhance their natural contours, such as the cheekbones, or add volume to certain areas of the face, like the lips. 

However, while dermal fillers are great at enhancing one’s natural beauty or erasing signs of aging, like wrinkles, they’re also effective at addressing deep acne scars. This type of acne scars treatment works by lifting up the indented, depressed scars with a filler substance, often hyaluronic acid, which results in smoother, more even-toned skin. 

 

Achieve Clear, Smooth Skin at The Dermatology and Skin Surgery Center 

How would it feel to look in the mirror every day and see clear, smooth skin free of any acne scars and discoloration? With the help of our exceptional board-certified dermatologists at The Dermatology and Skin Surgery Center of Wilmington, we can work together to make this your reality! 

We deeply understand that each person’s journey to heal their acne and minimize their scars is unique. This is why we find a customized treatment plan to better help our patients achieve their skincare goals! 

Come see the skin experts at The Dermatology and Skin Surgery Center of Wilmington. We’re ready to create an individualized plan to address your acne scars and discoloration with an effective treatment today! 

 

If you’re ready to discover an effective treatment for acne scars and discoloration, get in touch with the Dermatology and Skin Surgery Center of Wilmington. Call us at (910) 782-0028 to schedule a smooth skin consultation.