Acne scars: The acne is gone, but the scars have remained.

Retinol and retinal are forms of vitamin A and are among the most extensively studied active ingredients for the skin. In the skin, they are converted into retinoic acid, which binds to receptors in the cells, thereby stimulating cell renewal and collagen production. Retinal is just one step away from the active retinoic acid, whilst retinol is two steps away — retinal therefore acts more quickly. Both refine the skin’s surface, but cannot tackle deep scars on their own. Studies also reveal a downside: rapid cell renewal can temporarily weaken the skin barrier and increase moisture loss — the skin becomes sensitive and dry, particularly with excessive dosages or too frequent use. If this causes your skin to become dehydrated, that is a separate issue — read more about it at dehydrated skin →. For us, Retinal is a complementary component alongside treatments that act directly on the dermis.

Source: Mukherjee S et al., Retinoids in the Treatment of Skin Ageing. Clinical Interventions in Ageing. 2006;1(4):327–348.

Yes. SkinPen® was the first microneedling device with FDA clearance specifically for facial acne scars (de-novo classification). In the approval study, men and women of all skin types were treated with three treatments at four-week intervals; around 90 % showed a visible improvement in their acne scars six months after the third session. Because SkinPen works purely mechanically, without heat, it is also safe for dark skin types — without an increased risk of hyperpigmentation.

Source: FDA De Novo authorisation DEN160029; clinical trial ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02646917.

ResurFX™ is a fractional, non-ablative 1565 nm laser. It renews the skin in specific areas and stimulates new collagen deep within the skin. Studies show that this wavelength improves mild to moderate depressed acne scars. In a direct split-face comparative study, the non-ablative 1565 nm laser achieved a similar level of scar improvement to the ablative CO₂ laser — but with significantly fewer side effects and a shorter recovery time. The CO2 laser can achieve a great deal in a single session, but this comes at the cost of a longer, visible downtime. It is important to note that complete resolution of the scars cannot be expected with any laser.

Source: Cheng X et al., Comparison of 1565-nm non-ablative and 10600-nm ablative fractional lasers in atrophic acne scars. Dermatologic Surgery. 2021;47(3):392–396.

To be honest: usually not entirely. Deep scars can be significantly smoothed and reduced, but rarely completely eliminated — this applies to all methods, including laser treatment. A noticeably more even, smoother complexion is a realistic outcome. And because the skin builds up new collagen with every treatment, the appearance improves gradually over time.

Fillers can temporarily lift individual sunken scars by adding volume underneath them. This does nothing to change the scar itself — the irregular collagen — and the effect wears off after a few months. We take a different approach: we stimulate the skin to form new, organised collagen at the site, so that the structure changes from within.

It depends on the type of scar, its depth and your skin. Acne scars almost always require a course of treatment and usually a combination of several methods over a period of several months — a single session is rarely enough. We’ll decide on your treatment plan following the AURA 3D skin analysis.

This depends on the method and the number of sessions — you can find an overview on our Prices page →. Not ready for an on-site analysis just yet? Our Skin Quiz → gives you a quick overview in five minutes — no appointment or email required.