How to Treat Acne Scars: Your Options Explained
From stubborn marks to smoother skin — understanding the types of acne scars and the treatments that genuinely help them fade.
By Oksana, Lead Lash Artist · Updated June 2026 · 7 min read
Written by the Luxury Lashes team and reviewed by Oksana, our studio owner and lead lash artist, drawing on years of hands-on experience serving clients in Federal Way, WA.
Long after a breakout clears, the reminders can linger — a stubborn dark mark or a small pit in the skin that no amount of concealer quite hides. The good news is that acne scars respond to the right plan.
Treating acne scars starts with understanding what kind you have, because different scars need different approaches. Here our Federal Way team explains the main types and the treatments, both professional and at-home, that genuinely help them fade.
First, what kind of scar do you have?
Not all marks left by acne are the same, and matching the treatment to the scar is the single biggest factor in getting results. Broadly, they fall into two groups.
The first is discolouration — flat red or brown marks known as post-inflammatory pigmentation. These are not true scars and tend to fade with time and the right ingredients.
The second is textured scarring, where the skin surface itself has changed, leaving small depressions or, less commonly, raised areas. These need treatments that work on collagen.
The main types of acne scarring
Knowing the vocabulary helps you understand which treatment suits you, so here is a quick guide to what you might be seeing:
- Post-inflammatory marks — flat red, brown or purple discolouration
- Atrophic scars — small depressions or pits in the skin surface
- Boxcar scars — broader pits with defined edges
- Rolling scars — gentle waves that give skin an uneven look
- Hypertrophic scars — raised, firm areas of excess tissue
Flat discolouration overlaps closely with general hyperpigmentation, so the brightening approach used there often helps these marks too.
Professional treatments that work
For textured scarring in particular, professional treatments deliver the kind of results that creams alone cannot. They work by prompting the skin to renew its surface and rebuild collagen in the affected areas.
Microneedling is a popular choice, creating tiny controlled channels that stimulate fresh collagen and gradually smooth the skin. Our guide to microneedling explains how it works in detail.
Chemical peels are another effective option, accelerating surface turnover to fade marks and refine texture — read more in our chemical peel guide.
Building an at-home routine for acne marks
Professional treatments do the heavy lifting, but a consistent home routine keeps progress moving between appointments. Focus on these steps:
- Cleanse gently twice a day without scrubbing or over-stripping
- Use a vitamin C serum in the morning to help brighten marks
- Introduce a retinoid at night to support cell turnover
- Keep skin hydrated to support healthy healing
- Apply broad-spectrum SPF every single morning, without fail
A vitamin C serum is especially useful for fading discolouration, while carefully using a retinoid encourages the renewal that smooths texture over time.
Prevention is part of the plan
The most effective scar strategy also includes stopping new ones from forming. Calming active breakouts and resisting the urge to pick gives skin its best chance to heal cleanly. Helpful habits include:
- Never picking or squeezing blemishes, which deepens scarring
- Treating active acne early to limit inflammation
- Booking regular professional facials to keep skin clear
- Protecting healing skin from the sun every day
A targeted facial for acne-prone skin helps keep breakouts under control so fewer marks form, and the same renewing treatments help with minimising large pores along the way. You can book a skin consultation to map out a plan.
Patience and sun protection matter most
If there is one mistake we see, it is expecting overnight results and skipping sunscreen. Collagen remodelling is slow by nature, so meaningful change takes weeks and months, not days. Consistency is what wins.
Sun protection is equally non-negotiable, because UV exposure darkens marks and stalls healing. The American Academy of Dermatology emphasises gentle, consistent care and daily sun protection when treating acne and the marks it leaves behind, which is exactly the approach we take in the studio.
The bottom line
Acne scars are treatable, but the right path depends on the type you have. Flat marks fade with brightening ingredients and time, while textured scars respond best to professional treatments like microneedling and peels, supported by a steady home routine and daily SPF.
Want a plan tailored to your skin? Explore our facial and skin treatments, see the current price list, or visit our Federal Way studio for a personal assessment of your scarring.
Why textured scars and dark marks need different plans
It is worth repeating because it changes everything: treating a flat discoloured mark is a very different task from treating a textured pit. Confusing the two is the main reason people feel their efforts are not working, because they are using the wrong tools for the job in front of them.
Flat marks are essentially pigment sitting in skin that has healed smoothly. They respond to ingredients and treatments that brighten and accelerate turnover, and they often fade substantially with patience and diligent sun protection alone.
Textured scars, on the other hand, involve a structural change where collagen was lost or laid down unevenly during healing. No serum can rebuild that structure, which is why collagen-stimulating treatments such as microneedling are the cornerstone of improving them.
A thorough assessment is the fastest way to avoid wasted effort. When you book a consultation, we look closely at your scar types in person and build a layered plan combining professional treatments with the right home care.
How professional treatments improve scarring
Professional scar treatments share a common goal of encouraging the skin to renew and rebuild itself in a controlled, guided way. Rather than masking marks, they prompt genuine change in the skin over a course of sessions, which is why results tend to be lasting.
Microneedling works by creating thousands of microscopic channels that trigger the skin natural repair response, flooding the area with fresh collagen. Over several sessions, depressed scars gradually plump and the surface becomes noticeably smoother and more even.
Chemical peels take a complementary approach, using carefully chosen acids to resurface the upper layers and speed cell turnover. This is especially effective on discolouration and shallow texture, revealing fresher, more uniform skin beneath.
Because every face is different, the strongest results usually come from a combined, paced plan rather than a single treatment. Browse our skin treatment menu to see the options, and take a look at the gallery to get a sense of the finishes we work towards.
Living with acne-prone skin while treating scars
One of the trickier parts of treating acne scars is that many people are still managing active breakouts at the same time. Calming current acne is actually part of the scar plan, because every inflamed blemish that is left to rage or gets picked risks becoming the next mark.
A gentle, consistent routine that controls breakouts without stripping the skin lays the groundwork for everything else. Harsh, drying regimens can paradoxically worsen inflammation and pigmentation, so balance and restraint usually serve better than aggression.
Regular professional facials play a quiet but valuable role here, keeping pores clear and skin calm so fewer new marks form, steadily tipping the balance towards clearer, smoother skin.
If you are juggling active acne and older scarring, you do not have to figure it out alone. Our team can build a single plan that addresses both at once, so reach out through our Federal Way studio to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between acne scars and dark marks?
Can acne scars be removed completely?
What is the best professional treatment for acne scars?
Do I need to wear sunscreen if I have acne scars?
How long does it take to fade acne scars?
About the Author — Oksana
Oksana is the owner and lead lash artist at Luxury Lashes, a premium beauty studio in Federal Way, WA. She and her team specialize in eyelash extensions, lash lifts, brows, skin, body and nail services, and are committed to safe technique, premium products, and results clients love. Learn more about our studio and team.
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