Acne scars represent disrupted collagen architecture — and the right treatment depends entirely on what kind of disruption is present. Shallow textural irregularities respond differently than deep icepick or boxcar scars, and Dr. Martin evaluates scar type and depth before recommending anything.

For mild to moderate scarring, the Sciton Halo Tribrid addresses both surface texture and deeper dermal remodeling in a single session, with three to five days of downtime. For more significant scarring — particularly pitted or rolling patterns — the ECO2 fractional CO2 laser delivers deeper ablative resurfacing that drives more substantial collagen reorganization, with five to seven days of recovery and results that are meaningful and durable. Genius RF Microneedling is effective for atrophic scarring specifically because its radiofrequency energy rebuilds collagen beneath the surface without disrupting the epidermis — one to two days of mild redness, and it can be used alone or layered with laser work to extend results. For patients with both active acne and scarring, Dr. Martin sequences treatment: control the active disease first, then address what it left behind.