Acne scars form when deep inflammation destroys collagen in the skin. When the spot heals, the body does not fully replace what was lost, and the surface sinks. The result is an indented, or atrophic, scar.

They come in three main types:

• Ice pick scars are narrow, deep and sharp, like a large open pore.
• Boxcar scars are wider, with defined edges and a flatter base.
• Rolling scars are broad, shallow dips that give the skin a wavy, uneven surface.

Most people have a mix of all three.

At Skinportant, we treat acne scars with microneedling. We don’t just run the pen over the face. First we treat the whole area to improve overall texture. Then we go back over the scars with smaller, focused passes. Finally we stamp directly into each scar at a greater depth, delivering the stimulus where the collagen is missing.

Depth is set zone by zone across the face: shallower around the eyes and nose, deeper on the cheeks where scarring is usually heaviest. Every scar is assessed at consultation before we treat.