Acne Scars: Protecting the Epidermis While Stimulating the Dermis

Acne scars are a concern that is difficult to resolve at the surface alone, which is why an approach that reduces damage to the epidermis while still delivering a regenerative signal deep into the dermis is needed. Here we would like to explain why acne scars form, and introduce PicoSure PRO Focus mode, which can help improve them effectively.

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Why do acne scars form?

The reason deep acne scars form on the skin is that, when a breakout was severe, the damage extended as far as the dermis. Ordinarily, when skin tissue is injured it begins a regenerative response to return to its original state, but when inflammation is too strong or repeated, abnormal fibrotic tissue becomes tangled together and pulls the surface of the skin firmly downwards.

As a result, the surface is left uneven, with acne scars in a depressed form. Acne scars appear in a mixture of various shapes — boxcar scars with sharply defined right-angled edges, icepick scars that are narrow and deep as though pierced with an awl, and rolling scars with a gently undulating shape — and whatever the form, a regenerative stimulus that lifts the sunken volume of the dermis upwards is needed.

Is it different from past scar lasers?

Scar lasers of the past mainly used methods that ablated the skin surface or delivered strong heat, so there was the inconvenience of considerable discomfort after treatment, with weeping or redness that persisted for a long time.

PicoSure PRO, which NUWA Clinic Gangnam uses for acne scar treatment, combines a 755nm picosecond laser with a specialised focus lens, and can be said to have improved on these limitations. For those who are concerned about both depressed scars and pores, and are wondering which treatment would suit them, it can be a good option.

I would like to know about PicoSure PRO Focus

PicoSure PRO Focus uses powerful laser energy to create micro-injury in the dermis, inducing skin regeneration. It forms new collagen and elastin, which has a positive influence on scar improvement and pore refinement.

Laser energy passing through the focus lens does not ablate the skin surface (the epidermis); instead it creates micro-injury in the dermis beneath. To sum up, PicoSure PRO Focus works by protecting the epidermis while deliberately creating micro-injury in the dermis alone, inducing the synthesis of collagen and elastin. As new tissue fills in densely from within, hardened scar tissue becomes more pliable, and as a result depressed acne scars improve.

How do I care for my skin after PicoSure PRO?

Once the PicoSure PRO Focus laser has stimulated the dermis, several normal responses accompany the process of active cell regeneration beneath the skin.

Immediately after treatment, redness may appear along with mild burning or slight swelling. This generally settles within one to two days, and depending on skin type very small, fine crusts may form — but as these fall away naturally within a few days while washing the face, take care not to pick at them.

After treatment, regenerative cream and moisturiser should be applied generously, and applying sunscreen thoroughly when going out helps support the result. Activities that generate heat — saunas, alcohol and smoking — should also be avoided for a week.

Depressed marks that become visible depending on the lighting cannot be resolved through home care or cosmetics alone, because they involve structural change in the dermis, so the skin’s own capacity to recover needs to be supported with clinical help. Rather than choosing a treatment that simply applies strong stimulation, we hope you will choose an experienced clinic that can remodel the dermis healthily while protecting the skin barrier.

Healthy, resilient skin is completed when accurate information and consistent care are added to the treatment itself, rather than by the treatment alone. NUWA Clinic Gangnam, which proposes a direction suited to your skin condition through a one-to-one tailored assessment, 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. How many sessions of acne scar treatment do I need?

A. It is difficult to state a fixed number, as this differs according to the depth and form of the scar (boxcar, icepick or rolling) and each person’s rate of skin regeneration. In many cases it proceeds over several sessions, with collagen regenerating cumulatively.

Q. Is PicoSure PRO treatment very uncomfortable?

A. Because the method minimises damage to the epidermis while creating micro-injury in the dermis alone, the burden of discomfort tends to be lower than with scar lasers of the past. That said, sensitivity to pain varies between individuals, so we adjust the energy level through consultation.

Q. When does the effect appear after acne scar treatment?

A. Because new collagen and elastin take time to form, change often appears gradually over several weeks rather than immediately after treatment. It is a treatment where the effect is expected to accumulate over several sessions.

Q. Is it effective for all acne scars?

A. Because the pattern of damage in the dermis differs according to the form of the scar — boxcar, icepick, rolling and so on — adjusting the energy settings to the form and depth is important. Approaching it after an accurate assessment of the form is the most reliable way.

Q. I would like to know how to care for my skin after acne scar treatment.

A. Please apply regenerative cream and moisturiser generously, and be thorough with sunscreen when going out. Do not force off the fine crusts that form after treatment, and it is best to avoid activities that generate heat — saunas, alcohol and smoking — for a week.