Acne scars affect about one in five acne patients, often causing both physical and emotional distress. Treatment options range from topicals and oral medications to minimally invasive procedures and surgery. Microneedling has become a popular choice for those who haven’t seen results from other non-surgical methods.
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The guide explains microneedling for acne scars, including expected results, aftercare tips, and cost.
Microneedling is a minimally invasive, FDA-approved treatment effective in reducing the appearance of acne scars.
Tiny, sterilized needles make small punctures to stimulate collagen production, resulting in a smooth, firm texture and an evened-out skin tone. This procedure is suitable for all skin types and provides lasting results.
Note: Microneedling can also help reduce stretch marks and hide dark under-eye circles.
The procedure creates controlled micro-injuries to the skin’s surface that activate the body’s natural healing process and tissue regrowth by stimulating collagen and elastin production.
The new collagen repairs the damage by filling in skin lesions and breaking down old scar tissue, improving overall skin texture and tone.
There are several acne types and they leave different types of acne scars.
Microneedling is effective for atrophic scars – flat or depressed blemishes that appear because of insufficient collagen. By boosting the production of this vital skin protein, microneedling helps reduce different types of atrophic scars, including the following:
Hypertrophic and keloid acne scars develop because of excess collagen production. Microneedling is not recommended for treating these types of scars.
The effectiveness of microneedling for atrophic acne scars depends on the following factors:
Note: Microdermabrasion and chemical peels can also help reduce acne scars. Learn the key differences between microdermabrasion vs. microneedling and microneedling vs. chemical peels.
Follow these guidelines to maximize the results and prevent an undesired outcome:
The licensed provider will clean the treatment area and apply a topical numbing cream to minimize discomfort. While microneedling is not a painful procedure, it may be slightly uncomfortable.
A microneedling device rolls across the skin, penetrating the outer skin layer with fine needles and creating controlled micro-wounds that stimulate collagen production.
The procedure may take up to 30 minutes, depending on the size of the treatment area.
Note: Microneedling can be combined with PRP to treat acne scars and other skin issues more effectively. Learn more about microneedling with PRP.
According to clinical studies, a reduction in scarring occurs several weeks after the first treatment. However, the final stage of scar remodeling may occur after a year.
The severity of acne scars and the desired results determine the number of sessions. Three to six visits spaced four to six weeks apart can significantly reduce mild to moderate scars. Severe scars may require additional sessions at four-to-six-week intervals.
The results are typically permanent with proper maintenance care. They may take up to six months to fully show, but the scars do not return to the previous state.
Professional micro-needling treatments should not make acne scars worse. However, a worsening of acne scars is possible after an at-home microneedling session, and at-home microneedling devices are not recommended for the treatment of acne scars.
At-home devices cannot guarantee needle sterility or needle length. Many at-home devices drag skin during the treatment and can make puncture holes that tear the tissue. Overusing a micro-needling device or pressing too hard can damage skin and lead to more scarring.
Microneedling is also unsuitable for treating the skin with active acne as it can provoke irritation and breakouts by spreading acne bacteria to other body parts.
Note: Sofwave is a new, FDA-approved skin-tightening cosmetic procedure that uses fractional ultrasound energy to stimulate collagen, tighten the skin, and smooth acne scars.
Downtime is minimal, so you can quickly resume normal daily activities. You may experience some discomfort, such as redness, swelling, and a burning sensation.
The following aftercare tips can help prevent potential complications and maximize the results:
Additionally, your doctor may prescribe a topical antibiotic cream to avoid infection.
Side effects are minor and subside on their own after a few days or within two weeks.
The most common side effects include the following:
Microneedling is generally considered a safe treatment for people of good health. Medical experts do not recommend it if any of the following applies to you:
Your licensed provider will determine your eligibility before the procedure and recommend the number of sessions based on desired results, skin sensitivity, and scar severity.
The cost depends on your location, chosen medical spa, and the number of sessions.
Vibrant Skin Bar offers basic microneedling sessions that successfully fade post-acne scars.
Our skin experts also recommend Vivace microneedling, a treatment that combines microneedling with LED therapy and radiofrequency to penetrate deeper skin layers and encourage more collagen production.
If you have flat or depressed atrophic acne scars and topicals are not helping, microneedling may be the solution for you. Clinicians report high patient satisfaction with the procedure because the treatment is quick, relatively painless, and provides permanent results.
Contact our staff for more information and professional inquiries.
We are a Phoenix-based full-service medical spa with a passion for enhancing our clients’ natural beauty from the inside out.
