Ice pick acne scars are like deep pits in the skin, damaging the epidermis and sometimes the dermis. They don't fade away with time, and you will need to take the help of your dermatologist to reduce their visibility.
Laser skin resurfacing is one of the most common resurfacing techniques that dermatologists use to treat ice pick scars. The procedure involves using monochromatic light to deliver thermal energy to the scar, which stimulates the production of collagen and elastin.
Ice pick scars are the most frequent form of atrophic acne scars. In total ice pick scars occur in 60%–70% of all patients with atrophic acne scars. Thus, this is the most frequent form of acne scar which I treat as a laser and acne scar specialist.
Bio Oil works the same on all types of acne scars and other indented scars. Pockmarks, ice pick scars, rolling scars, or boxcar scars can be used with Bio-Oil. The product's basic premise is that moisture is the best treatment for acne scars.
Ice pick acne scars are too deep to cure naturally over time or through traditional home remedies. But you can consult your dermatologist for the best option based on your skin type and the intensity of your ice pick scars.
The most difficult type of acne scars to treat is icepick acne scarring. Ice pick scars are narrow, V-shaped scars that go deep into the skin. They often look like small oval holes, similar to a chicken pox scar. Because of these characteristics they are the most difficult acne scars to treat.
In general, the answer is yes – microneedling may be an effective treatment for ice pick scars. In fact, in a study published in the Indian Journal of Dermatology, microneedling was found to be more effective than pulsed laser therapy for the treatment of ice pick scars.
The cost of ice pick scar removal treatment in India ranges between Rs 7,000 and Rs 20,000 per session. It varies based on the procedure selected, the severity of scars, the no. of sessions recommended, the experience of the doctor, and the clinic location and reputation.
Chemical Peels
As its cells grow and mature, our skin goes through a natural process of exfoliation (shedding of older, dead cells). Chemical peels speed up this process, which helps new skin to grow. This can minimize the appearance of pitted scars, including ice pick scars.
Treating acne scars with tretinoin
While tretinoin may potentially improve the appearance of acne scars, it's important to note that depressed scarring (e.g., boxcar, icepick and rolling scars) does not go away with topical treatments.
While Bellafill is the only FDA approved injectable filler for the long-term correction of acne scars, other fillers such as Juvederm, Radiesse, Belotereo, Retylane or Sculptra may be used. These typically will need to be injected every few months to maintain their effect.
Ice-pick scars are a common type of scarring that can occur as a result of the acne healing process. They appear as small, sharp indentations that are wider at the skin's surface and narrow into a point as they reach down into the skin.
Generally, microneedling produces the best results with depressed or pitted scarring. This is because raised scarring indicates an excess of collagen in the area already. Microneedling can be used to treat a number of skin conditions in addition to acne scars, which includes: Burn scars.
After having microneedling treatments, your acne scars will not come back. As part of the natural aging process, you may lose some volume overtime, making residual scars somewhat more noticeable. However, your microneedling treatments will make your skin smoother in the long-term.
Retinol is also found in many acne scar treatment products because it promotes new skin cell growth and helps even out skin texture and skin tone—all of which can help reduce the appearance of newer, red acne scars and older scars.
The three phases to healing are the inflammatory stage, the proliferative stage and the remodelling stage.
Depending on the location of the scar, acne scars can appear more severe as you grow older because of collagen depletion in the skin. Depressed acne scars or atrophic acne scarring will usually look worse as your skin loses natural volume as part of the natural aging process.
Acne marks have various levels of depth, so with the deeper acne scars, what's called ice pick or boxcar scars, salicylic acid is not going to help you that much. But for superficial scarring or superficial roughness, salicylic acid can give you a smoothing effect.
Niacinamide is an important nutrient that has numerous skincare abilities and can assist with helping to reduce signs of acne-scarring.