Acne scars
Acne scars can make you shy about looking in the mirror under bright light, even when the acne cleared long ago. Scars can improve, but they need the right method, enough time and a clear plan.
What are acne scars?
When an inflamed spot goes deep into the dermis, it breaks the collagen network that supports the skin's surface. As it heals, the body doesn't always rebuild enough collagen evenly, leaving small depressions. Those are acne scars.
Acne scars take many forms: icepick scars that are narrow and deep, boxcar scars with clear edges, and rolling scars that make the surface undulate under side lighting. Most scarred skin has several types at once. Each type responds to a different method, so the treatment plan is usually a combination rather than a single treatment.
Learn more about scar types and causes
What causes acne scars?
From acne damage
- Deep, long-lasting inflamed acneThe deeper and longer the inflammation, the more easily the collagen beneath is destroyed.
- Squeezing, picking spotsMechanical force makes the damage wider and deeper.
- Treating acne lateInflamed acne that isn't controlled early is the most common cause of scars.
Constitution
- Healing abilityEvery skin produces collagen differently as it heals.
- AgeCollagen declines with age, making old scars more visible.
Three common types
A small opening that goes deep like a pinprick; usually the hardest to improve.
Round or oval depressions with sharp edges, shallow or moderately deep.
Fibrous bands pull the skin's surface down, creating an undulating area under side lighting.
Atrophic scars form in the dermis, where collagen has been lost or become fibrotic after inflammation. That's why methods acting on this layer are needed.
Where should I start?
The first thing we check isn't the scars, but the acne. If acne is still active, treating scars now is like repairing a wall while the roof is still leaking. Controlling acne first is always the foundation.
During your Da Ký™, we observe your scars under different lighting angles, identify each type and its depth, and ask about your schedule to choose a method with a suitable recovery time. You'll know in advance roughly how many sessions you'll need and what realistic expectations are.
Home care
No topical product can fill atrophic scars. But what you do every day decides whether your skin is healthy enough to respond well to treatment, and whether the scarred area gets darker.
A simple, consistent routine focused on acne control, sun protection and barrier recovery is the foundation we want you to have before and throughout scar treatment.
Recommendations we often give
- Control acne first. Every new inflamed spot can leave a new scar. This is the most important step.
- Wear sunscreen every day. Skin under treatment very easily increases pigment. Sunscreen keeps scars from getting darker.
- Retinoids as advised. Help renew the skin's surface and support collagen. Start at a low concentration and build up.
- Don't microneedle at home. Microneedling with incorrect technique and without sterility can cause infection and make scars worse.
- Be patient. New collagen takes a few months to form. Results come gradually over a multi-session course, not after one session.
At Claire, we work with cosmeceutical lines such as SkinCeuticals, ZO Skin Health, Obagi and Dermalogica, and only suggest a product when it truly suits your skin.
In-clinic options
Acne scar treatment at Claire is a multi-session plan, usually combining several methods, chosen after Da Ký™ according to the type and depth of your scars.
Derma CIT uses SkinPen or Dermapen microneedling to create controlled micro-injuries, triggering self-repair and new collagen. It's usually the foundation method for boxcar and rolling scars.
For deeper scars with less firm skin, Focus360 combines UltraLift and fractional RF to act on the deep dermis. Peel & Glow and Skin Peel helps smooth the surface and even out the colour of the scarred area.
Between sessions, Bio Cell and Skin Recovery helps skin recover, reduces redness and prepares it for the next session.
See how each treatment acts
| Treatments | Stimulates collagen | Levels the surface | Evens the scarred area | Recovery between sessions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derma CITStandard numbing · Intensive antisepsis · Dermapen 12–18-pin microneedling · 100–105 minutes · VND 7,200,000 · Member VND 5,400,000 | ||||
| Focus360Numbing & pain relief · UltraLift Tightening · VFRM 25-pin fractional RF · 130–135 minutes · VND 20,000,000 · Member VND 18,000,000 | ||||
| Peel & GlowP-Solution · T33 · Antisepsis & Microchanneling · 75 minutes · VND 7,200,000 · Member VND 5,400,000 | ||||
| Skin PeelActive peel · Neutralise & Soothe · 50–55 minutes · VND 3,500,000 · Member VND 2,400,000 | ||||
| Bio CellSkin antisepsis · Nanofacial + Serum · Smask + Cold acupressure therapy · 75–80 minutes · VND 5,400,000 · Member VND 3,600,000 | ||||
| Skin RecoveryCold Plasma, LDM or LED · Mask + Cold Therapy · 40–65 minutes · VND 900,000 · Member VND 600,000 |
Main action Supporting
Depth of action
Illustrated according to each treatment's technology; actual action is adjusted to each skin.
Other options and advice
Some scar types need more specialised methods, such as subcision, fractional laser or filler. Raised and hypertrophic scars also need a completely different approach.
If we see that your scars would improve better with a method Claire doesn't offer, we'll say so clearly and refer you to the right place. Claire always follows ethical medical aesthetic practice.
Other skin concerns
Begin by understanding your skin
Da Ký™: a one-to-one consultation, unhurried, with no pressure to buy a package.