Acne Scarring Treatment Twickenham

Skin Experts

Acne Scarring

What causes acne scarring?

Collagen production changes within acne scars. Collagen is normally constantly broken down by the body, but when it is formed in a thickened area or scar this process doesn’t happen. Some scars are deeper than others and acne can cause pitting, ice pick marks and keloid scarring to the skin.

What are the different types of acne scars?

Atrophic scars are flat, shallow depressions commonly caused by cystic acne. There are 3 types of atrophic scars

• Ice pick scars are small narrow indentations pointing down into the skin. These are difficult to treat.
• Boxcar scars are broad box like depressions with sharp edges often caused by widespread acne but may be the results of chickenpox or varicella viral infection.
• Rolling scars make skin look wavy and uneven, they varying in depth.

Hypertrophic scars for raised lumps of scar tissue in the skin. These acne scars happen when the scar tissue builds up and tend to be the same size as the acne spot.

Keloid scars are larger and raised, growing beyond the site of the original spot.

How do you determine the best treatment plan for my acne scars?

At Thames Skin Clinic, we create a personalised treatment plan for acne scars after a consultation with Dr Anna Hemming or a trained practitioner. We assess your skin type, scar severity and type, plus any previous treatments or skin conditions. Based on this, we recommend the most effective course, which may include

• Microneedling: 4 to 6 sessions spaced 3 to 5 weeks apart, possibly with RF or PRP boosters.
• Secret RF: superior Radiofrequency microneedling treatment for epidermal repair and tightening of scars done through 3 sessions, spaced 2 months apart.
• Secret Pro Based on secret RF treatment: adding Fractional CO2 laser treatment to resurface the skin after radiofrequency microneedling treatment. This is especially effective for scar improvement. 
• Laser (Cutera Excel V+ / CO2) for targeted collagen rebuilding and resurfacing
• Chemical peels or plasma therapy, depending on your scar type and skin depth

When is the best time to treat acne scars? Can I treat them while I still have active acne?

The best time to treat acne scars is once your active acne breakouts are under control and your skin is relatively clear. Treating scars while you still have active acne can irritate your skin, potentially worsening existing scars or causing new ones. For example, microneedling, a popular scar treatment, is not recommended during active acne because it may spread infection and increase inflammation.

Is acne scar treatment painful? What kind of downtime can I expect?

Acne scar treatments at Thames Skin Clinic are well-tolerated, with minimal discomfort. We can apply numbing creams before microneedling or laser sessions to keep treatments as comfortable as possible for you. Downtime is minimal for many treatments, with mild redness or swelling lasting 12 to 24 hours. More intensive options, such as chemical peels and CO2 laser treatment may involve peeling or scabbing for 5 to 7 days. Regardless of the treatment, we’ll guide you through post-care so your skin heals beautifully and safely.

Patients love our scarring treatments because they work.