Acne Scars: How Pigment Marks and Depressions Are Treated Together

When breakouts recur on the skin, two kinds of mark are generally left behind where they were: pigmentation that has turned red and dark from the inflammatory response, and depressed marks where the structure of the dermis has been damaged and the surface has sunken. When these two are present together, the surface of the skin looks all the more uneven, and the untidy feel is not easily covered even with heavy make-up, so it becomes a concern each time you look in the mirror.

People often assume that pigment marks and depressed marks are entirely separate problems that need treating separately. For efficient improvement, however, it is better to address the two together. Today we will set out why blotchy marks and depressed marks should be looked at together, and how the PicoSure PRO Focus mode at a dermatology clinic in the Gangnam Station area improves both precisely at once.

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Why should pigment marks and depressed scars be treated together?

The marks breakouts leave behind arise from causes that are closely linked. Where a chronic inflammatory response has occurred, microvessels dilate and leave a red mark, and that inflammation destroys collagen tissue in the dermis, which leads on to a depressed mark.

A blotchy pigment mark remaining is a sign that the environment for cell regeneration is unstable. Improving the dermal environment while caring for pigment and firmness together raises the skin cells’ own capacity, so sunken areas fill in and the tone clears. This is why the choice of laser device and precise parameter adjustment matter in treating combined acne scars.

How does PicoSure PRO Focus mode improve scars?

Most of the fractional lasers mainly used in the past worked by strongly ablating the epidermis or applying high thermal damage. This meant weeping or coarse crusts after treatment that interfered considerably with daily life, and given the characteristics of Asian skin there was concern about side effects such as post-treatment hyperpigmentation, where the skin instead darkens.

PicoSure PRO Focus mode in the Gangnam Station area improves scars by combining a 755nm picosecond laser with a special focus lens array. Laser energy passing through the focus lens goes through without irritating or damaging the skin surface. When deliberate stimulus is delivered to the dermis while the epidermal barrier is protected, the skin begins synthesising collagen and elastin fibres by itself in order to heal it. New tissue fills in densely, and this is how acne scars improve.

How does the 755nm wavelength act on pigment and scars?

The 755nm wavelength of PicoSure PRO is absorbed highly and selectively into red and dark melanin pigment and the marks left by breakouts, while keeping stimulus to surrounding normal tissue and blood vessels to a minimum. Dermal regeneration that fills in depressed marks and improvement of a blotchy tone can therefore take place together within one treatment. That said, the degree and pace of improvement differ according to the form and depth of the scar and the condition of the skin, so designing the parameters through assessment is advisable.

What is the response afterwards and how should the skin be looked after?

A few temporary responses may appear during regeneration after PicoSure PRO Focus mode. Redness along with a light burning sensation or slight swelling may appear right after treatment, and this settles naturally within a few hours to one or two days. Fine flaking or crusts may also form, but as they come away naturally while washing, they should not be forcibly removed. After treatment it is best to apply plenty of moisturiser and recovery cream to protect the barrier, and to use sunscreen thoroughly. Please avoid saunas, alcohol and vigorous exercise for a week.

If pigment marks and depressed marks are both left behind where breakouts have been, what is needed is an approach that protects the epidermis while restoring the dermis to health, rather than simply repeating strong energy and damaging the skin barrier. We hope you will first have a thorough consultation at an experienced dermatology clinic.

Healthy, resilient skin is completed not by a treatment on its own, but when accurate information is combined with consistent day-to-day care. NUWA Clinic Gangnam, where a one-to-one assessment guides a direction suited to your skin, is located directly in front of Exit 7 of Gangnam Station, on floors 3 and 4 at 385 Gangnam-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul.

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Frequently asked questions

Q. Should acne marks and depressed scars be treated separately?

A. The two marks arise from linked causes. As inflammation leaves a red mark and destroys dermal collagen, which leads on to depression, caring for pigment and firmness together by improving the dermal environment can be expected to bring synergy to the improvement.

Q. How does pico improve scars?

A. With pico, energy passing through the focus lens goes through without damaging the epidermis and delivers deliberate stimulus. As the dermis synthesises collagen and elastin and new tissue fills in while the epidermis is protected, the burden on the epidermis tends to be lighter than with the fractional methods of the past.

Q. How many sessions does acne scar treatment take?

A. This differs according to the form and depth of the scar and individual skin regeneration, so a number cannot be stated with certainty. As collagen regenerates cumulatively, it is often carried out over several sessions.

Q. Can I return to daily life immediately after scar treatment?

A. As the method reduces damage to the epidermis, the return to daily life tends to be relatively quick. That said, redness or fine crusts may be present right afterwards, so please do not pick them off; taking care of moisturising and sun protection helps recovery.

Q. Please tell me the precautions after scar treatment.

A. Please do not pick off fine crusts; wait for them to come away naturally. Protect the barrier with moisturiser and recovery cream, apply sunscreen thoroughly, and it is best to avoid saunas, alcohol and vigorous exercise for a week.