Acne is one thing, but the acne scarring it leaves behind can feel even harder to deal with. Long after breakouts clear up, the reminders they leave on your skin can affect your confidence every day. At Avalon Laser, one of San Diego’s premier treatment centers for acne scarring, our expert team works with each patient to develop a fully customized skincare plan designed to resurface, repair, and restore your skin, no matter your skin type or the severity of your scars.
Understanding Acne Scarring: Types & Causes
Not all acne scars are the same, and treating acne scars effectively starts with understanding exactly what you’re dealing with. Acne scarring develops when inflammation from breakouts damages the deeper layers of the skin. Depending on how the skin heals and how much collagen the body produces during recovery, different scar types can form:
Ice Pick Scars
Deep ice pick scars are narrow, deep punctures that extend into the skin’s lower layers. They are among the most challenging scar types to treat because of how far they penetrate below the surface. Standard topical products rarely reach deep enough to address deep ice pick scars effectively, making professional laser resurfacing one of the most reliable options.
Boxcar Scars
Boxcar scars are wider, shallow-to-medium depth depressions with sharply defined edges. They develop when a breakout destroys collagen in a localized area, leaving a pit in the skin’s surface. Boxcar scars respond well to treatments that stimulate collagen production and resurface the treatment area.
Rolling Scars
Rolling scars create a wave-like, uneven appearance across the skin’s surface. They form when scar tissue develops fibrous bands beneath the skin that pull the surface downward, resulting in the rolling or undulating skin texture that gives this scar type its name. Treating rolling scars typically involves breaking up the underlying scar tissue and encouraging the growth of new collagen fibers to lift and smooth the skin.
Raised Scars
Unlike the depressed scars above, raised scars, also known as hypertrophic or keloid scars, form when the body produces too much collagen during the healing process, causing the scar to rise above the surrounding skin. While less common with facial acne, raised scars can occur on the chest, back, and shoulders, and require a different treatment approach than depressed acne scarring.
Laser Resurfacing for Acne Scars at Avalon Laser
For patients dealing with deeper acne scars, uneven skin texture, or widespread acne scarring that hasn’t responded to topical treatments, laser resurfacing is one of the most powerful and proven solutions available. At Avalon Laser, Dr. Tirgari uses advanced laser technology to precisely target the treatment area, delivering controlled energy into the deeper layers of the skin to break down damaged scar tissue and stimulate collagen production.
As new collagen fibers form in response to the laser treatment, the skin gradually plumps and fills in depressed scars, including boxcar scars, rolling scars, and deep ice pick scars, while the surface is simultaneously resurfaced for smoother, more even skin texture. Critically, the laser targets only the damaged tissue, leaving the surrounding skin completely unharmed.
Key benefits of laser resurfacing for acne scarring at Avalon Laser include:
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Effective treatment for multiple scar types, including rolling scars, boxcar scars, raised scars, and deep ice pick scars
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Stimulates the production of new collagen fibers for long-lasting, progressive improvement
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Precisely targets scar tissue without damaging surrounding skin
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Suitable for a wide range of skin types with customized settings
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Minimal discomfort during treatment, with most patients tolerating sessions very well
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Improves overall skin texture, tone, and clarity beyond just the scars themselves
Most patients require a series of sessions to achieve optimal results, as each treatment builds on the last, progressively breaking down scar tissue and replacing it with healthy new collagen fibers. Our team will design a treatment plan tailored specifically to your skin type, scar severity, and personal goals.
Medical-Grade Chemical Peels for Acne Scarring
Laser resurfacing works even more powerfully when combined with medical-grade chemical peels as part of a comprehensive treatment for acne scarring. A professional chemical peel accelerates the removal of damaged surface skin cells, improves skin texture, and helps stimulate collagen production in the treatment area, complementing and enhancing the deeper work performed by laser resurfacing.
Chemical peels are also an excellent standalone option for patients with milder acne scarring or those who are not yet candidates for laser resurfacing. By regularly removing the outermost layers of skin and promoting the growth of new collagen fibers, medical-grade peels gradually improve the appearance of superficial scarring and help prevent future breakouts from creating new damage.
Treating Active Acne Alongside Acne Scars
One of the most common concerns we hear from patients is this: “I still have active breakouts, can I still treat my acne scars?” The answer is yes. At Avalon Laser, we offer a full range of treatment options for both active acne and existing acne scarring, and our team is experienced in addressing both concerns simultaneously as part of a single, cohesive treatment plan.
Treating the root causes of active acne while simultaneously targeting scar tissue means you stop creating new scars while reducing the appearance of old ones, putting you on the fastest possible path to clearer, healthier skin.
Additional Services at Avalon Laser
Treating acne scars is just one part of what makes Avalon Laser San Diego’s most comprehensive medical spa. Our full menu of cosmetic services includes:
Laser Hair Removal — Permanent reduction of unwanted hair on the face and body, customized to your skin type and hair color.
Wrinkle Reduction & Skin Tightening — Advanced laser therapies that stimulate collagen production to firm, lift, and smooth aging skin on the face and neck.
IPL Photofacials — Intense pulsed light treatments that address sun damage, rosacea, uneven skin tone, and more for comprehensive skin rejuvenation.
Rosacea Treatment — Targeted laser and light therapies to reduce chronic redness and visible vessels for a clearer, more even complexion.
Body Contouring with VelaShape® — An FDA-approved body sculpting technology that safely improves the appearance of cellulite and contours the body without surgery.
Whether your goals involve treating acne scars, combating the signs of aging, or addressing other skin concerns, Avalon Laser goes far beyond your typical medical spa — delivering results that begin beneath the surface and work outward.
Schedule Your Acne Scar Consultation in San Diego
You don’t have to keep living with the reminders that past breakouts left behind. Whether you’re dealing with deep ice pick scars, rolling scars, raised scars, or general uneven skin texture from years of acne scarring, Avalon Laser has the expertise, technology, and personalized approach to help you achieve visibly smoother, more confident skin.
Contact Avalon Laser today to schedule your consultation at our San Diego, Carlsbad, or Del Mar area location. Our team will evaluate your skin type, assess your acne scarring, and design the most effective treatment plan to help you look and feel your absolute best.
