The best laser treatment for acne scars depends on the type of scarring being treated. Factors such as scar type, severity, skin characteristics, downtime tolerance, and clinician assessment all help determine the most appropriate approach. At London Plastic Surgery & Advanced Aesthetics in London, Ontario, treatments such as HALO® Hybrid Fractional Laser, ProFractional™ Laser, and Forever Clear BBL™ may be recommended based on your specific concerns. At London Plastic Surgery & Advanced Aesthetics in London, Ontario, we provide personalized laser treatment for acne scars for teens and adults. Your treatment plan is based on your scar type, skin characteristics, desired results, and comfort with downtime, because there is no one-size-fits-all answer.
How Do You Match the Treatment to the Acne Scar?
Pitted scars, uneven texture, redness, and dark marks each respond differently to treatment. Rolling scars create shallow, wave-like depressions, while boxcar scars have broader, more defined edges. Ice-pick scars are narrower and deeper. Some people are more concerned by redness or post-acne pigmentation than indentation.
That distinction matters. Textured and pitted scars are treated differently from active acne, redness, and post-acne pigment. Deeper or more complex scarring may also benefit from a personalized combination approach rather than one device alone.
A professional assessment can help identify the factors contributing to your scarring and determine which treatment options may be appropriate. A professional assessment can identify what is causing your scarring and help you take the next step toward skin that feels more like you.
Is HALO® or ProFractional™ Better for Textured Acne Scars?
For pitted and textural concerns, two important Sciton® technologies available through our acne-scar treatments are HALO® Hybrid Fractional Laser and ProFractional™ Laser.
HALO® laser treatment combines ablative and non-ablative wavelengths to address the skin at different levels. For acne scars, it can improve the appearance of pitted scars and textural irregularities while stimulating collagen remodelling.
ProFractional™ laser works differently, creating precise microscopic channels that initiate a healing response and collagen renewal. The clinic identifies it as an option particularly suited to deeper boxcar and rolling scars.
So, which is the best laser treatment for acne scars? Neither is automatically better. Your scar pattern, skin condition, desired level of correction, and acceptable downtime should guide the recommendation.
What About Redness, Post-acne Marks, and Active Acne?
If your main concerns are active breakouts, lingering redness, or discolouration left behind after acne, resurfacing lasers may not be the only treatment to consider. These concerns are different from pitted acne scars because they involve active acne and changes in skin colour rather than depressions or irregularities in the skin's texture.
Forever Clear BBL™ is a light-based treatment designed for active acne and associated redness and discolouration. It uses broadband light technology rather than a laser, so its role in an acne treatment plan is different from resurfacing treatments such as HALO® Hybrid Fractional Laser and ProFractional™ Laser.
This difference is especially important if you have several concerns at once. You might, for example, have newer breakouts and red or dark post-acne marks alongside older pitted scars. In that situation, your treatment plan may need to address both the active acne or discolouration and the uneven texture, instead of expecting one technology to treat everything.
For deeper depressions and textural acne scars, laser treatment for acne scars using options such as HALO® or ProFractional™ may be considered. For active acne, redness, and post-acne discolouration, Forever Clear BBL™ may play a different, complementary role.
Can Different Acne Scar Treatments Be Combined?
Yes, depending on your skin assessment. When someone has both uneven texture and discolouration, a customized plan can address those concerns differently rather than expecting one technology to accomplish everything. For example, Forever Clear BBL™ may address redness and pigmentation while HALO® or ProFractional™ targets uneven texture and collagen remodelling.
Another option that may be considered when appropriate is Sciton TRIBRID™ laser skin resurfacing. This customizable Sciton® platform combines three wavelengths and can address concerns including acne scars, uneven texture and pigmentation.
Your clinician can also discuss whether complementary skincare treatments or services through the scar clinic make sense within your overall skin plan. The goal isn't to prescribe the most treatments. It's to choose treatments that correspond to what you actually see in your skin.
FAQs About Acne Scar Laser Treatment
1. Is HALO® or ProFractional™ better for acne scars?
It depends on your scarring. HALO® uses hybrid fractional technology to address surface and deeper skin concerns, while ProFractional™ creates microscopic channels to promote collagen remodelling. A skin assessment helps determine which approach better matches your scar type and goals.
2. Can laser treatment completely remove acne scars?
Laser treatment cannot promise to make every acne scar disappear entirely. However, it can noticeably soften the look of scarring, improve skin texture, and create a more even overall complexion. Results depend on the type and depth of the scars, your skin, and how your body responds to treatment.
3. Can acne redness and pitted scars be treated together?
A combination approach may be appropriate. Forever Clear BBL™ can target redness, pigmentation, and active acne, while HALO® or ProFractional™ can address pitted texture. The appropriate combination should be determined through an individualized assessment.
4. Find the Right Acne Scar Treatment for Your Skin
Choosing an acne scar treatment starts with understanding your skin. During your consultation, our team will assess your scar type, skin characteristics, and concerns to determine which treatment options may be appropriate for you.
If acne scars, lingering redness, or uneven texture are affecting how you feel about your skin, London Plastic Surgery & Advanced Aesthetics is here to help. Book a consultation in London, Ontario, and let’s find an approach that fits your skin and your goals.