Acne, marks and scars: what stays on the skin once the acne is gone?

Alexandra Gianni · Aesthetician – Cosmetologist

Close-up of a cheek with post-acne marks and small scars

The acne may have subsided, the inflammation may have stopped and the skin may now be calmer. And yet, when you look in the mirror, you may feel that your face hasn't quite returned to the way it looked before.

There may be redness, darker areas, uneven texture or small indentations on the surface of the skin. And this is usually where the search begins: “What can I do to improve it?”

The answer is not always one specific treatment. Skin that has been through acne needs to be understood first, and only then can we decide how to work on it.

Acne doesn't always end when the spots stop

The inflammation may subside, but the skin needs time to recover. In some cases post-inflammatory discolouration remains, while in others changes in the skin's texture have developed. There are also cases where both coexist.

This is exactly why a treatment that helped one person may not be the right choice for someone else. And there is no need to treat the skin aggressively just because we want to see a quick result.

Improving the appearance of the skin is usually a process, not an instant result.

Before anything else, we look at what is happening now

When there is still active acne, the approach is different from the one we follow when only the marks or scars remain. Severe forms of acne may require medical treatment.

Once the active phase has subsided, however, we can turn our attention to what has been left behind: the appearance of the skin, the discolouration, the texture and the overall quality of the skin.

And this is where it matters not to simply look for “the best treatment for acne scars”. What we are looking for is the right intervention for the skin in front of us.

What can we do?

There are several techniques that can be used to improve the appearance of the skin after acne. Choosing between them depends on the goal and on how the skin responds.

Microneedling with Micropen EVO

When our main concern is uneven texture and the appearance of atrophic scars, microneedling can be a meaningful option. With the Micropen EVO, controlled micro-injuries are created in the skin, activating its natural mechanisms of regeneration and collagen remodelling.

The goal is not to “erase” a scar overnight. It is to gradually improve the texture and quality of the skin, so that irregularities become less noticeable.

Chemical peels

Chemical peels can be used when we want to boost skin renewal and improve the appearance, the texture and certain types of discolouration. Depending on the type of peel, its formulation and the way it is applied, we can work on the skin in different ways.

And here there is an important detail: a stronger peel does not mean a better result. The right choice and the right application matter more than intensity.

Dr. Schrammek herbal peel

The Dr. Schrammek herbal peel is a different approach to skin renewal, which can be used in protocols where the goal is to improve the overall appearance and quality of the skin. It is an option that can be integrated into the care of post-acne skin, always depending on its condition and the goal we have set.

Dermalux LED Light Therapy

Dermalux LED Light Therapy uses specific wavelengths of light that act at different levels of the skin, aiming to support its natural processes of renewal and repair. It can be used to improve the overall appearance of the skin, but also as part of protocols for acne-prone skin, inflammation or post-acne marks.

And after the treatment?

Here is something we often overlook. The appearance of the skin does not depend only on what we do in the treatment room. Daily care plays an equally important role.

That is why, before every treatment, we take a detailed history. We are not only interested in which products you use. We want to know your habits, your skincare routine, your sun exposure, your lifestyle and, more generally, everything that can affect the appearance and behaviour of your skin.

Because the right care has to be something you can actually follow in real life. A routine that is too demanding or doesn't fit your daily habits is unlikely to last. And the skin needs consistency, not excess.

For me, this is the most important part. When someone comes in with acne marks or scars, they don't just want to have a treatment. They want to look at their skin again and feel that it is improving.

That is why the process starts with an assessment, continues with the selection of the right techniques and is completed with the guidance and care that they can follow themselves in their everyday life.

At Aestheticare, in Milos, we use different techniques and treatments – from microneedling with Micropen EVO and chemical or herbal peels to Dermalux LED Light Therapy – not because there is one treatment that does everything, but because different tools allow us to address different needs of the skin.

Because in the end, what matters is not having more treatments. What matters is having the right ones.

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Written by

Alexandra Gianni

Aesthetician – Cosmetologist

Founder & Skin Expert | Aestheticare

Founder of Aestheticare in Milos, she shares what she has learned through her daily work and her experience at the studio, with an emphasis on correct, evidence-based skincare.

All her articles

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