When active acne fades, acne scars may remain. From discoloration to shallow or deep depressions, these scars can make the skin appear rough and uneven rather than smooth and refined.
If acne scars are keeping you from feeling your most confident, it’s time to invest in the right acne scar treatment.
In Philadelphia, the About Face Aesthetics team curates advanced acne scar treatments for care that’s personal and results that are refined.
The About Face Philosophy of Skin Restoration
At About Face Aesthetics, we specialize in personalized, professional care driven by our clinical expertise and thoughtful consultation.
Our recommendations are intentional, measured, and designed to age well—we prioritize long-term skin health over unnecessary treatments. When you visit us for acne scar treatment in Philadelphia, trust that our treatment plans are clinically based.
Our 3-step process supports optimal results:
- We assess and classify your acne scars.
- We select a corresponding treatment for your scars and skin type.
- We extend your results with restorative aftercare.
Our Satisfied Clients
About Face Aesthetics happens to be the most phenomenal experience! Naomi’s knowledge and expertise is unparalleled. I first discovered this facility about 13 years ago when my daughter suffered from cystic acne. Her recommendations and treatment plan was a miracle! My daughter’s skin is gorgeous now.
Sharon
1. We Identify Your Acne Scars
While you may recognize how acne scars generally look, identifying their specific types requires an expert eye. Assessing the acne scars present helps ensure proper treatment and optimal results.
Different scar types require different treatment styles—they are not one-size-fits-all.
Prefer the expert eye of our specialists? Schedule your consultation with our providers for help identifying your acne scars.
Atrophic Scars
The most common type of acne scar, atrophic scars are shallow depressions in the skin’s uppermost layers. These scars often form after cystic acne or manually “popping” pimples, which can damage the skin’s structural collagen proteins.
Collagen—a protein produced as part of the body’s healing response—provides the skin with strength, structure, and support. Inflammatory acne or skin trauma can disrupt healing, preventing collagen production and halting the skin’s rebuilding process. This creates the scar’s pitted or recessed appearance.
We recognize 3 types of atrophic scarring: boxcar, ice pick, and rolling scars.
Boxcar Scars
Recommend Treatment: CO2 Helix, Clear + Brilliant, chemical peels, Morpheus8
Boxcar scars are oval-shaped depressions with well-defined edges, which make them noticeable against the surrounding smoother skin. They typically appear on the lower cheeks and jaw, where the skin is structurally thicker.
These indentations result from deep, inflammatory acne when the body doesn’t produce enough collagen to fill the skin again.
Ice Pick Scars
Recommend Treatment: CO2 Helix, chemical peels
Ice pick scars are smaller, more narrow indentations that sink deeper into the skin than boxcar or rolling scars. They are caused by severe acne, cysts, or papules—small, firm bumps beneath the skin’s surface.
Rolling Scars
Recommend Treatment: Morpheus8, Clear + Brilliant, chemical peels
Rolling scars vary in size and depth and have sloping edges that give the skin a wavy or uneven appearance. These depressions have softer, less-defined edges than boxcar or ice pick scars.
2. We Select Your Treatment Plan
Once you and your provider identify your acne scars, they assess your overall skin quality and recommend a personalized treatment strategy.
Our treatment strategies are evidence-based and safety-focused for comfortable care and long-lasting results.
We do not recommend the following treatments for active acne. If you still have active acne alongside acne scarring, we recommend the AviClear acne treatment to minimize any current blemishes and reduce future breakouts.
Related Article: AviClear Acne Treatment: How It Works and Who It’s For
Treat Acne Scars With Laser Resurfacing
Laser resurfacing treatments offer 2 types of wavelengths:
- Ablative treatment removes the uppermost layers of the skin to refresh and resurface shallow scars and discoloration.
- Non-ablative treatment bypasses the upper layers to restore and rebuild your skin more deeply.
This acne scar treatment in Philadelphia also creates controlled heat damage to the tissues, boosting collagen production.
CO2 Helix Platform
Ideal to Address: Ice pick scars, boxcar scars
The CO2 Helix platform combines a gentle, ablative wavelength with thermal collagen stimulation for customized treatment that fits your unique skin and scars.
With greater precision than traditional CO2 lasers, the Helix has 3 specialized modes that allow optimal skin restoration.
- CoolPeel: This infrared laser gently removes the outermost layers of skin, revealing the smoother, healthier skin underneath. It also activates the healing process, firming skin and improving the appearance of shallow boxcar scars.
- Sultra: This 1570nm fractional laser creates microscopic “channels” in the skin for more comprehensive skin rejuvenation while leaving the uppermost layers untouched for minimal downtime. We recommend this treatment for ice pick and deeper boxcar scars.
- Fusion: Our specialists customize your acne scar treatment in Philadelphia by combining elements of CoolPeel and Sultra for a treatment tailored to your skin concerns.
Individual treatment duration and frequency depend on each patient and the severity of their acne scars. Most patients notice improvements to their scarring after a series of 1 to 3 treatments, spaced 8 to 12 weeks apart.
Related Article: Restore Your Skin With the Helix CO2 Laser
Clear + Brilliant
Ideal to Address: Shallow boxcar scars, rolling scars
The Clear + Brilliant laser uses fractional technology to smooth skin texture and minimize the appearance of shallow boxcar and rolling scars with gentle intensity. This minimizes downtime while still yielding noticeable results from enhanced collagen production.
At About Face Aesthetics, we often pair this laser with other acne scar treatments as a final restorative step. Most clients notice optimal results following a series of 3 to 6 sessions, each 2 to 4 weeks apart.
Treat Acne Scars With Morpheus8
Ideal to Address: Rolling scars, boxcar scars
The Morpheus8 acne scar treatment in Philadelphia combines traditional microneedling techniques with radiofrequency (RF) energy waves to address deeper skin texture concerns, such as rolling and boxcar scars, in addition to fine lines and wrinkles.
Your About Face provider “stamps” gold-plated microneedles into the skin, creating microscopic wounds that stimulate a healing response. The emitted RF energy extends to heat the deeper skin layers and activate collagen production for truly advanced skin rejuvenation.
We recommend patients complete a series of 3 to 6 treatments, spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart, with exact timeframes depending on the depth of their acne scarring.
Treat Acne Scars With Chemical Peels
Ideal to Address: Ice pick scars, boxcar scars, rolling scars
Chemical peels are customizable chemical solutions that combine concentrated skincare ingredients, such as exfoliating acids and vitamin C, to “peel” away damaged skin layers and improve skin texture and tone.
Choose between 2 acne-focused formulations:
- The Perfect Peel: This chemical peel removes the uppermost skin layer to soften the defined edges of ice pick and boxcar scars and minimize the appearance of rolling scars.
- BioRePeel: This peel uses trichloroacetic acid (TCA) to activate collagen production in pitted acne scars and level the skin’s surface. Its inside-out approach stimulates collagen production with minimal flaking or peeling—ideal for shallow rolling scars.
A patient’s recommended chemical peel treatment schedule depends on their skin’s condition and the strength of their previous chemical peel.
During your appointment for this acne scar treatment in Philadelphia, ask your About Face specialist about the recommended frequency of your sessions.
Our Satisfied Clients
If you’re looking for estheticians who are grounded in the science of skin, this is the only place to go in Philly. Naomi and her team are incredibly educated on the anatomy and physiology of all things skin care and make recommendations based on evidenced backed science. Their aesthetic is tasteful and emphasizes a natural appearance to beauty. This however does not mean your results will not be profound. After 40 years of skin issues, Naomi correctly identified my root causes, offered me a solution, and explained every step of the process.
Jennifer
3. Results That Continue Beyond the Treatment Room
Strategic at-home skincare preserves your clinical progress, strengthens the skin barrier, and reduces the risk of future breakouts and scars.
We recommend clients follow these post-care guidelines after their acne scar treatment in Philadelphia:
- Avoid extensive sun exposure and sunburns. Instead, reapply SPF 30+ sunscreen every 2 hours and wear a hat when going outdoors to protect the skin from UV rays, which can break down collagen or damage healing skin.
- Allow your skin time to heal before your next treatment. While it may seem more effective to schedule acne scar reduction appointments in rapid succession, doing so can prevent the skin from fully healing between treatments and cause hyperpigmentation. At About Face, we prioritize long-term skin health over rapid results.
- Invest in acne-focused skincare products. Incorporate cleansers, toners, and moisturizers designed to minimize current acne and prevent future breakouts.
Related Article: The Top Skincare Ingredients for Acne-Prone Skin
Refine Your Skin Texture Through Expert Acne Scar Care
Ready for a medical-led approach to acne scar reduction that prioritizes your skin’s long-term health? The team at About Face Aesthetics offers advanced acne scar treatment in Philadelphia.
Reserve your appointment and discuss the ideal options for your treatment goals with one of our skin experts.
Discover a more thoughtful approach to medical aesthetics.