Why Does Acne Leave Scars? And Can You Really Get Rid of Them?
- Cassie Ogren
- Jul 9
- 4 min read
A Complete Guide to Acne Scar Treatment in Virginia Beach
For many people, the breakout is only half the battle. The acne eventually goes away—but the scars remain.
If you've ever looked in the mirror and felt like your acne is gone but your skin still tells the story, you're not alone. Acne scars can be one of the most frustrating reminders of years spent struggling with breakouts.
The encouraging news is this: acne scars don't have to be permanent.
Modern treatments like microneedling and the Aerolase Neo Elite laser can significantly improve the appearance of acne scars by encouraging your skin to rebuild healthy collagen over time.
Why Does Acne Leave Scars?
Not every pimple leaves a scar.
Scarring typically occurs when inflammation from acne extends deep into the skin and damages the collagen and supporting structures beneath the surface.
Think of collagen as the framework that gives your skin strength and smoothness.
When a deep pimple forms, the body sends inflammatory cells to fight the bacteria causing the breakout. While this is an important part of healing, the inflammation can also damage healthy collagen surrounding the pore.
As the skin heals, it attempts to rebuild that damaged tissue.
Sometimes the body doesn't produce enough collagen, leaving behind a depression or "indented" scar. Other times, it produces too much collagen, resulting in a raised scar.
The deeper and more inflamed the acne lesion, the greater the chance of permanent scarring.
Does Picking Pimples Cause More Scarring?
Unfortunately, yes.
Picking, squeezing, or popping pimples increases trauma to the skin and pushes inflammation even deeper into the tissue.
It can:
Increase collagen damage
Delay healing
Spread bacteria
Increase redness
Lead to darker pigmentation
Increase the likelihood of permanent scarring
This is why professional extractions performed during acne treatments are much safer than attempting to extract blemishes yourself at home.
Why Do Some People Scar More Easily Than Others?
Several factors influence whether acne leaves scars.
These include:
The severity of inflammation
Genetics
How long the acne remains untreated
Picking or squeezing blemishes
How quickly the skin heals
Skin type
The depth of the acne lesions
Even two people with similar breakouts may heal very differently.
Can Acne Scars Go Away on Their Own?
Some discoloration left behind after acne—known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) or post-inflammatory erythema (PIE)—may gradually fade over time.
True acne scars, however, behave differently.
Indented scars represent a loss of collagen. Because the skin's structure has changed, these scars typically do not disappear without treatments that stimulate collagen remodeling.
The good news is that while acne scars may not completely disappear, they can often be improved dramatically with the right treatment plan.
How Does Microneedling Improve Acne Scars?
Microneedling is considered one of the gold-standard treatments for atrophic (indented) acne scars.
During treatment, tiny sterile needles create controlled microchannels in the skin.
These micro-injuries trigger your body's natural wound-healing response.
As your skin heals, it begins producing new:
Collagen
Elastin
Healthy skin tissue
Over the following weeks, this newly formed collagen gradually fills in and softens the appearance of depressed scars.
Unlike treatments that simply resurface the skin, microneedling encourages your body to rebuild the damaged support structure beneath the scar.
Learn more about What Is the Best Age to Start Microneedling?
How Does the Aerolase Neo Elite Laser Help Acne Scars?
The Aerolase is an excellent tool for improving acne scars.
The Aerolase Neo Elite works by delivering ultra-short pulses of laser energy deep into the skin, where it stimulates fibroblasts—the cells responsible for producing collagen.
This new collagen helps remodel damaged tissue over time, gradually improving:
Texture
Skin firmness
Scar appearance
Overall skin quality
An added benefit is that Aerolase also reduces redness and post-acne pigmentation, allowing scars to blend more naturally with the surrounding skin.
Is It Better to Combine Microneedling and Laser?
Often, yes.
Microneedling and Aerolase work through different mechanisms, making them highly complementary.
Microneedling excels at rebuilding collagen and improving depressed scars.
Aerolase reduces inflammation, stimulates collagen, improves redness, and helps create a healthier environment for healing.
Many clients achieve their best results by incorporating both treatments into a customized treatment plan.
How Many Treatments Will I Need?
This is one of the most common questions we receive.
The honest answer is that every scar tells a different story.
Several factors influence how many treatments you'll need, including:
How deep are the scars
How many scars you have
The type of scarring (raised or indented)
How long you've had the scars
Your age and collagen production capability
How consistently you complete the treatments
Most clients begin noticing improvement after several treatments, but meaningful collagen remodeling takes time.
As a general guideline:
Mild acne scarring: 3–4 treatments
Moderate acne scarring: 4–6 treatments
More severe or longstanding scars: 6–8 or more treatments
Treatments are typically spaced about 4 weeks apart to allow your skin time to heal and build new collagen between sessions.
Because collagen remodeling continues for months after each treatment, improvements often continue long after your appointment.
Will My Acne Scars Ever Completely Go Away?
Our goal is to create skin that feels smoother, healthier, and more confident.
Many clients experience dramatic improvements in:
Texture
Depth of scars
Skin tone
Confidence
We will always work towards giving you the results you desire. Even if scars are not erased completely, improving them by 50–80% can make an incredible difference in how your skin looks and how you feel about it.
Can I Prevent Future Acne Scars?
Absolutely.
The best way to treat acne scars is to prevent them from forming in the first place.
This means:
Treating acne early
Avoiding picking or squeezing blemishes
Following a customized skincare routine
Scheduling professional acne treatments
Reducing inflammation before collagen damage occurs
If you're currently dealing with active acne, don't wait until scars develop.
Learn more in our blog, Why Do Adults Get Acne?
Ready to Start Improving Your Acne Scars?
If you've spent years feeling like acne scars are something you'll simply have to live with, we want you to know there is hope.
At Sanctuary Skin in Virginia Beach, we create customized treatment plans using professional skincare, microneedling, Aerolase Neo Elite laser, and other corrective treatments to help your skin rebuild healthier collagen and improve its texture over time.
Your acne may be part of your past—but your scars don't have to define your future.
Sanctuary SkinVirginia Beach, VA757-646-7985
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