Facts Checked
Acne gone but scars still visible? Explore 8 proven dermatologist treatments for ice pick, rolling, boxcar, and raised acne scars, plus how doctors choose the right option.
You cleared the acne. Finally! But then the mirror showed something else. Tiny pits, uneven texture and shadows that refuse to blur, no matter how good the lighting is. That is not a mark, that is a scar.
Acne scars happen when acne damages the skin deeply. Sometimes the skin does not rebuild properly and leaves small pits. Other times, it makes too much tissue and creates raised scars. Either way, these changes do not fade with creams or patience.
And here is the part most people do not realise. There is no single “best” treatment. Ice pick scars behave differently from rolling scars. Your skin tone changes laser choices. Your tolerance for downtime matters more than trends.
So what actually works?
Below, we rank 8 dermatologist-recommended treatments based on real clinical effectiveness and when each one makes sense.
Most people say, “I have acne scars,” and stop there. But scars are not one single thing. Two people can have completely different skin textures and still use the same label. That is where mistakes begin. If you treat the wrong scar type, you waste time and money.
Start by looking closely. Not in harsh bathroom lighting. Stand near a window. Turn your face slightly. Texture becomes obvious when light hits from the side.
Ice pick scars are small, but they are deep. They look like tiny holes pushed straight into the skin. The opening is narrow, almost pinpoint, but the scar extends downward into the deeper layers.
You will notice them more than feel them. Makeup often sinks into them. Light casts a small shadow inside each one.
These scars are not wide and shallow, instead are vertical and sharply defined. If your scars look like tiny punctures rather than dips or waves, you are likely dealing with ice pick scars.
These are the dents that catch your eye in photos. Wider than ice pick scars, boxcar scars look like small depressions with clear-cut edges. Almost as if a tiny portion of skin was pressed down and never lifted back up.
Some are shallow and only show when light hits from the side. Others are deeper and visible even in soft lighting. You might notice foundation settling into them. You might see uneven texture along the cheeks that does not blur, no matter how good the skincare is.
They do not taper inward like narrow scars. The outline stays firm, and the base often looks flat.
Rolling scars develop when fibrous bands form beneath the skin and tether it downward. The damage is not just on the surface. It sits deeper, where those strands hold certain areas in place.
What you see on top is an uneven texture. The skin does not look sharply pitted or clearly cratered. It looks irregular, with shallow dips that blend into surrounding areas. The contour appears disrupted across a broader patch. This type of scarring is common on the cheeks.
Some acne heals and leaves a bump where a pimple once sat. Healing tissue keeps building for longer than it should, and the area thickens.
Run your fingers over it, and you will notice the difference immediately. It feels solid and slightly elevated. Hypertrophic Scars are more noticeable on the jawline, chest, or back, where breakouts tend to be deeper and more inflamed.
What remains is a raised patch that stands above surrounding skin, not a dent or uneven dip.
Once you know your scar type, the next question is obvious. What actually improves it? No single procedure works for every pattern. Skin tone also changes how aggressively you can treat. This is the reason why experienced dermatologists don’t follow one single treatment option.
It creates tiny, controlled columns of heat inside the skin. Those microscopic zones trigger a repair response. As fresh collagen forms during healing, uneven areas gradually begin to lift and soften.
This approach suits boxcar and rolling scars because it works below the surface, where the actual structural damage sits. Change does not happen overnight. Results take time. Most people need 3 to 5 sessions, spaced a few weeks apart.
After each session, the skin turns red and feels tight. Peeling is common and usually lasts several days. Planning matters, especially in deeper skin tones, where excessive energy can leave behind pigmentation that lasts longer than expected.
With Indian skin, you cannot treat aggressively just because a machine allows it. Too much energy can leave behind dark patches that take far longer to fade. Dr Priyanka Reddy at DNA Skin Clinic in Bangalore looks at how deep the scars run and how your skin has reacted in the past before deciding how strong a session should be.
The idea is simple. Improve texture without creating a new problem while fixing the old one.
RF microneedling uses fine needles along with heat energy. The needles enter the skin, and the radiofrequency energy is delivered at a set depth. This stimulates collagen in areas where scarring has weakened support.
It is commonly used for rolling scars and shallow boxcar scars. Since the surface layer is not removed, recovery is usually shorter than with ablative lasers. Redness typically settles within a couple of days.
Most treatment plans involve 4 to 6 sessions. In some cases, PRP is added during the procedure, depending on the scar pattern and overall skin condition.
With rolling scars, the problem sits under the skin. Thin fibrous strands attach the scar to deeper tissue and keep it pulled down. No amount of surface polishing fixes that pull.
Subcision works below the surface. A small needle is guided under the scar to loosen those tight bands. Once released, the depressed area is no longer held down and can rise gradually as healing takes place.
Bruising is part of the process. The area may look swollen or discoloured for about a week. Tenderness settles sooner.
Some scars release easily in one sitting. Others need more than one attempt, especially when tethering runs deep or across a wider area.
Ice pick scars are tricky. They look small, but they run deep. Many treatments skim the surface and never reach the bottom of these narrow pits.
TCA CROSS treats each scar one by one. A strong TCA solution is placed carefully inside the tiny opening. The goal is to trigger healing exactly at that depth. As the skin repairs itself, new collagen develops from the base, and the pit slowly becomes shallower.
Most people need a few rounds, usually 2 to 4, depending on how deep the scars are. A small dark crust forms after each sitting and comes off on its own within a few days.
This is not a broad application treatment. Each mark has to be handled with control and experience. Poor technique can widen the opening or leave behind pigmentation, especially in medium to darker skin tones.
Very few people have just one kind of scar. One area may have deep tethered depressions. Another may show wider surface dents. Treating everything with a single method often leaves part of the problem untouched.
In these cases, subcision is used to release the deeper attachments first. Once that internal pull is addressed, laser treatment focuses on improving surface texture and blending uneven areas. Each technique works on a different layer of damage.
When done in stages, this combined approach usually delivers better overall improvement than using either procedure alone. Sessions are planned over several months, allowing the skin to heal between steps and respond gradually.
Some scars leave a hollow that stays visible even after collagen-based treatments. When the indentation is well defined and deep, adding volume beneath it can help.
Dermal Fillers use a hyaluronic acid filler placed under the depressed area to lift it to the level of the surrounding skin. The improvement is visible immediately, once the minor swelling settles.
This option does not last forever. The body gradually absorbs the filler over 6 to 12 months. Fillers work best for depressed scars rather than widespread, uneven texture.
PRP is prepared using a small sample of your own blood. The sample is placed in a machine that separates out a concentrated portion rich in platelets. These platelets release growth factors that help the skin repair itself.
When PRP is used along with microneedling or laser, it is applied on the skin or injected into the treated areas right after the procedure. Since it comes from your own blood, the body accepts it easily. It helps the skin recover in a stronger, more balanced way after controlled injury.
Many patients notice healthier-looking skin over time. However, PRP alone does not reduce the depth of significant acne scars. It is usually added to another procedure rather than used as the primary treatment.
When a scar feels thick and stands above the surrounding skin, the issue is not a lack of collagen but excess. The body kept producing tissue long after the acne healed.
Steroid injections are used to calm that overactive healing response. A measured dose is placed directly into the raised area. Gradually, the firmness reduces, and the height comes down. The texture becomes softer, less rigid.
Change happens step by step. One sitting rarely flattens a thick scar completely. Appointments are usually a few weeks apart. The goal is to reduce thickness gradually without over-correcting the area.
Selecting a treatment is not about choosing the strongest procedure available. It is a structured clinical decision based on what your skin actually needs.
Dermatologists usually evaluate the following:
There is no particular timeline. Results depend on how deep your scars are and how your skin type heals.
Cleared the breakouts, but the texture never returned to normal? That is usually the point where assumptions need to stop. Indentations and raised patches respond very differently from simple discolouration. No cream can rebuild lost collagen or flatten excess tissue on its own.
If store-bought products have not changed the appearance of acne scars, repeating the same routine will not do much. A proper assessment helps you understand what type of scarring you have and what can realistically improve.
At DNA Skin Clinic in Bangalore, evaluation comes first. Treatments such as laser resurfacing, RF microneedling, subcision, and TCA CROSS are chosen based on scar pattern and skin behaviour. Proper technology is used, with safety and measured progress kept in focus.
There is no universal fix. The plan depends on your skin. If you are in Bangalore and ready for clarity instead of trial and error, schedule a consultation and see what is truly possible.
No. Lasers can improve them, sometimes a lot, but it does not wipe them out completely. Shallow scars respond better. Deep ones usually look softer and less sharp, but they do not disappear. What most people notice is a smoother texture and fewer shadows, not perfect skin.
There isn’t one number for everyone. A few light scars may improve in a couple of sessions. Deeper or mixed scars take longer. It often becomes clearer after the first treatment how many more you might need.
Yes, if handled properly. Brown skin can develop dark patches if treated too aggressively. That is why the settings and spacing are chosen carefully. Experience matters here.
It depends on what is being treated. A single deep scar is different from treating the entire face. The cost also changes with the number of sessions required. An in-person evaluation gives a realistic idea.
Expect redness and peeling for about a week. Skin may feel tight and warm in the first few days. Some pinkness can last a bit longer. Most people plan it around their schedule so they are not stepping out much during recovery.
8 Best Treatment for Acne Scars: Dermatologist-Recommended Options
You cleared the acne. Finally! But then the mirror showed something else. Tiny pits, uneven texture and shadows that refuse to blur, no matter how good the lighting is. That is not a mark, that is a scar.
Acne scars happen when acne damages the skin deeply. Sometimes the skin does not rebuild properly and leaves small pits. Other times, it makes too much tissue and creates raised scars. Either way, these changes do not fade with creams or patience.
And here is the part most people do not realise. There is no single “best” treatment. Ice pick scars behave differently from rolling scars. Your skin tone changes laser choices. Your tolerance for downtime matters more than trends.
So what actually works?
Below, we rank 8 dermatologist-recommended treatments based on real clinical effectiveness and when each one makes sense.
Most people say, “I have acne scars,” and stop there. But scars are not one single thing. Two people can have completely different skin textures and still use the same label. That is where mistakes begin. If you treat the wrong scar type, you waste time and money.
Start by looking closely. Not in harsh bathroom lighting. Stand near a window. Turn your face slightly. Texture becomes obvious when light hits from the side.
Ice pick scars are small, but they are deep. They look like tiny holes pushed straight into the skin. The opening is narrow, almost pinpoint, but the scar extends downward into the deeper layers.
You will notice them more than feel them. Makeup often sinks into them. Light casts a small shadow inside each one.
These scars are not wide and shallow, instead are vertical and sharply defined. If your scars look like tiny punctures rather than dips or waves, you are likely dealing with ice pick scars.
These are the dents that catch your eye in photos. Wider than ice pick scars, boxcar scars look like small depressions with clear-cut edges. Almost as if a tiny portion of skin was pressed down and never lifted back up.
Some are shallow and only show when light hits from the side. Others are deeper and visible even in soft lighting. You might notice foundation settling into them. You might see uneven texture along the cheeks that does not blur, no matter how good the skincare is.
They do not taper inward like narrow scars. The outline stays firm, and the base often looks flat.
Rolling scars develop when fibrous bands form beneath the skin and tether it downward. The damage is not just on the surface. It sits deeper, where those strands hold certain areas in place.
What you see on top is an uneven texture. The skin does not look sharply pitted or clearly cratered. It looks irregular, with shallow dips that blend into surrounding areas. The contour appears disrupted across a broader patch. This type of scarring is common on the cheeks.
Some acne heals and leaves a bump where a pimple once sat. Healing tissue keeps building for longer than it should, and the area thickens.
Run your fingers over it, and you will notice the difference immediately. It feels solid and slightly elevated. Hypertrophic Scars are more noticeable on the jawline, chest, or back, where breakouts tend to be deeper and more inflamed.
What remains is a raised patch that stands above surrounding skin, not a dent or uneven dip.
Once you know your scar type, the next question is obvious. What actually improves it? No single procedure works for every pattern. Skin tone also changes how aggressively you can treat. This is the reason why experienced dermatologists don’t follow one single treatment option.
It creates tiny, controlled columns of heat inside the skin. Those microscopic zones trigger a repair response. As fresh collagen forms during healing, uneven areas gradually begin to lift and soften.
This approach suits boxcar and rolling scars because it works below the surface, where the actual structural damage sits. Change does not happen overnight. Results take time. Most people need 3 to 5 sessions, spaced a few weeks apart.
After each session, the skin turns red and feels tight. Peeling is common and usually lasts several days. Planning matters, especially in deeper skin tones, where excessive energy can leave behind pigmentation that lasts longer than expected.
With Indian skin, you cannot treat aggressively just because a machine allows it. Too much energy can leave behind dark patches that take far longer to fade. Dr Priyanka Reddy at DNA Skin Clinic in Bangalore looks at how deep the scars run and how your skin has reacted in the past before deciding how strong a session should be.
The idea is simple. Improve texture without creating a new problem while fixing the old one.
RF microneedling uses fine needles along with heat energy. The needles enter the skin, and the radiofrequency energy is delivered at a set depth. This stimulates collagen in areas where scarring has weakened support.
It is commonly used for rolling scars and shallow boxcar scars. Since the surface layer is not removed, recovery is usually shorter than with ablative lasers. Redness typically settles within a couple of days.
Most treatment plans involve 4 to 6 sessions. In some cases, PRP is added during the procedure, depending on the scar pattern and overall skin condition.
With rolling scars, the problem sits under the skin. Thin fibrous strands attach the scar to deeper tissue and keep it pulled down. No amount of surface polishing fixes that pull.
Subcision works below the surface. A small needle is guided under the scar to loosen those tight bands. Once released, the depressed area is no longer held down and can rise gradually as healing takes place.
Bruising is part of the process. The area may look swollen or discoloured for about a week. Tenderness settles sooner.
Some scars release easily in one sitting. Others need more than one attempt, especially when tethering runs deep or across a wider area.
Ice pick scars are tricky. They look small, but they run deep. Many treatments skim the surface and never reach the bottom of these narrow pits.
TCA CROSS treats each scar one by one. A strong TCA solution is placed carefully inside the tiny opening. The goal is to trigger healing exactly at that depth. As the skin repairs itself, new collagen develops from the base, and the pit slowly becomes shallower.
Most people need a few rounds, usually 2 to 4, depending on how deep the scars are. A small dark crust forms after each sitting and comes off on its own within a few days.
This is not a broad application treatment. Each mark has to be handled with control and experience. Poor technique can widen the opening or leave behind pigmentation, especially in medium to darker skin tones.
Very few people have just one kind of scar. One area may have deep tethered depressions. Another may show wider surface dents. Treating everything with a single method often leaves part of the problem untouched.
In these cases, subcision is used to release the deeper attachments first. Once that internal pull is addressed, laser treatment focuses on improving surface texture and blending uneven areas. Each technique works on a different layer of damage.
When done in stages, this combined approach usually delivers better overall improvement than using either procedure alone. Sessions are planned over several months, allowing the skin to heal between steps and respond gradually.
Some scars leave a hollow that stays visible even after collagen-based treatments. When the indentation is well defined and deep, adding volume beneath it can help.
A hyaluronic acid filler is placed under the depressed area to lift it to the level of the surrounding skin. The improvement is visible immediately, once the minor swelling settles.
This option does not last forever. The body gradually absorbs the filler over 6 to 12 months. Fillers work best for depressed scars rather than widespread, uneven texture.
PRP is prepared using a small sample of your own blood. The sample is placed in a machine that separates out a concentrated portion rich in platelets. These platelets release growth factors that help the skin repair itself.
When PRP is used along with microneedling or laser, it is applied on the skin or injected into the treated areas right after the procedure. Since it comes from your own blood, the body accepts it easily. It helps the skin recover in a stronger, more balanced way after controlled injury.
Many patients notice healthier-looking skin over time. However, PRP alone does not reduce the depth of significant acne scars. It is usually added to another procedure rather than used as the primary treatment.
When a scar feels thick and stands above the surrounding skin, the issue is not a lack of collagen but excess. The body kept producing tissue long after the acne healed.
Steroid injections are used to calm that overactive healing response. A measured dose is placed directly into the raised area. Gradually, the firmness reduces, and the height comes down. The texture becomes softer, less rigid.
Change happens step by step. One sitting rarely flattens a thick scar completely. Appointments are usually a few weeks apart. The goal is to reduce thickness gradually without over-correcting the area.
Selecting a treatment is not about choosing the strongest procedure available. It is a structured clinical decision based on what your skin actually needs.
Dermatologists usually evaluate the following:
There is no particular timeline. Results depend on how deep your scars are and how your skin type heals.
Cleared the breakouts, but the texture never returned to normal? That is usually the point where assumptions need to stop. Indentations and raised patches respond very differently from simple discolouration. No cream can rebuild lost collagen or flatten excess tissue on its own.
If store-bought products have not changed the appearance of acne scars, repeating the same routine will not do much. A proper assessment helps you understand what type of scarring you have and what can realistically improve.
At DNA Skin Clinic in Bangalore, evaluation comes first. Treatments such as laser resurfacing, RF microneedling, subcision, and TCA CROSS are chosen based on scar pattern and skin behaviour. Proper technology is used, with safety and measured progress kept in focus.
There is no universal fix. The plan depends on your skin. If you are in Bangalore and ready for clarity instead of trial and error, schedule a consultation and see what is truly possible.
No. Lasers can improve them, sometimes a lot, but it does not wipe them out completely. Shallow scars respond better. Deep ones usually look softer and less sharp, but they do not disappear. What most people notice is a smoother texture and fewer shadows, not perfect skin.
There isn’t one number for everyone. A few light scars may improve in a couple of sessions. Deeper or mixed scars take longer. It often becomes clearer after the first treatment how many more you might need.
Yes, if handled properly. Brown skin can develop dark patches if treated too aggressively. That is why the settings and spacing are chosen carefully. Experience matters here.
It depends on what is being treated. A single deep scar is different from treating the entire face. The cost also changes with the number of sessions required. An in-person evaluation gives a realistic idea.
Expect redness and peeling for about a week. Skin may feel tight and warm in the first few days. Some pinkness can last a bit longer. Most people plan it around their schedule so they are not stepping out much during recovery.
| Article Edited On | Edited By | Medically Reviewed By |
|---|---|---|
| March 15, 2026 | DR. Priyanka Reddy | DR. Priyanka Reddy |
March 15 , 2026
