Acne and Acne Scarring Treatment

Acne often leaves more than a memory behind. Shallow pits, sharp icepick marks, rolling depressions, and lingering brown or red spots can remain years after breakouts have stopped, and they tend to look more pronounced in overhead light and on camera. Patients from Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Brentwood, and across Los Angeles come to Parsa M.D. to learn which kind of scarring they have and which combination of treatments is most likely to soften it, because no single device works equally well on every scar type.

Combination treatment is the focus of Dr. Kami Parsa’s lecture Combination Treatments for Skin Rejuvenation, and it suits acne scarring well, since most patients have more than one scar type on the same face. He developed the Duplex® Procedure, which pairs radiofrequency microneedling with CO2 laser resurfacing, and his current research interests include skin repair and minimally invasive facial rejuvenation. His surgical training includes an ophthalmology residency at USC’s Doheny Eye Institute and a fellowship in oculoplastic and reconstructive surgery at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.

“Acne scars are rarely one problem. A single cheek can have icepick scars, rolling scars, and pigment all at once, and each responds to something different. The plan has to match the scar, not the other way around.” — Dr. Kami Parsa

What Is Acne Scarring?

An acne scar forms when a deep, inflamed breakout damages the dermis, the supportive layer beneath the skin’s surface. As the skin heals, it either lays down too little collagen, leaving a depression, or too much, leaving a raised scar. The depth of the original inflammation, how long it lasted, and whether the blemish was picked or squeezed all influence how much damage remains.

Dr. Parsa and his team classify scars before recommending treatment, since the type determines which options are likely to help:

• Icepick scars: Narrow, deep openings that extend well into the dermis, often seen on the cheeks.
• Boxcar scars: Wider depressions with defined, steep edges that look as if they were stamped into the skin.
• Rolling scars: Soft, wavy depressions caused by fibrous bands that tether the skin to deeper tissue, most visible in side lighting.
• Hypertrophic and keloid scars: Raised, firm scars more common on the jawline, chest, and back, and more likely in some skin types.

Many patients also have marks that are not true scars. Brown spots left after breakouts, called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and pink or red marks, called post-inflammatory erythema, sit in the upper skin and often fade over months. They respond to different treatments than textured scars, which is why an accurate evaluation matters.

What Causes Acne Scars?

Acne scarring is driven mainly by inflammation. Cystic and nodular acne, which forms deep in the skin, carries the highest risk, and delaying treatment of active acne gives inflammation more time to damage collagen. Genetics also plays a role, since some people scar from moderate breakouts while others with severe acne do not. Picking and squeezing push inflammation deeper, and sun exposure can darken both scars and post-acne marks. Over time, the natural loss of collagen and facial volume with age can make scars that were once faint more noticeable.

Is Acne Scar Treatment Right for You?

Good candidates are adults whose acne is controlled and who want to improve texture or discoloration left behind. Active breakouts should be treated first, often in partnership with a dermatologist, because treating scars while new ones are forming produces limited and temporary results.

The consultation covers your skin tone and history, since deeper skin tones carry a higher risk of pigment changes after heat-based treatments and may need different settings, pretreatment, or devices. Let the team know if you have taken isotretinoin (Accutane) within the past year, have a history of cold sores, form raised or keloid scars, are pregnant or nursing, or have an active skin infection. These factors can change which treatments are appropriate and when they should be scheduled. For a broader look at scars from surgery or injury, see our Scars page.

Acne Scar Treatment Options in Beverly Hills

Most plans combine two or more treatments over several months. Treatments are performed by Dr. Parsa or licensed members of his clinical team, described on our Our Providers page. Each treatment page below explains how the device works, what recovery involves, and who is a good candidate.

• Texture and depressed scars: Microneedling and Morpheus8 radiofrequency microneedling stimulate new collagen beneath boxcar and rolling scars.
• Deeper or more established scarring: CO2 Skin Resurfacing and the Duplex® Procedure resurface the surface while remodeling tissue below it, with more downtime.
• Mild texture and early scarring: Clear + Brilliant offers gentler, lower downtime resurfacing.
• Brown marks after breakouts: Chemical peels and the Cosmelan® Peel target discoloration, covered in more depth on our Hyperpigmentation page.
• Red marks after breakouts: Lumecca IPL can reduce redness in lighter and medium skin tones.

Improvement builds gradually as new collagen forms, usually over three to six months after a treatment series. Acne scars can be softened, often considerably, but they are not erased, and most patients see the best results from a staged plan rather than a single aggressive session. Daily sunscreen protects results and helps prevent new marks from darkening.

Risks and When to Seek Care

Every acne scar treatment carries some risk, and the specific risks depend on the device and depth of treatment. Common effects include temporary redness, swelling, pinpoint bleeding after microneedling, and flaking or peeling. Less common risks include infection, a cold sore outbreak after resurfacing, prolonged redness, darkening or lightening of the skin, and in rare cases new scarring. Contact the office right away if you notice blistering, spreading redness, warmth, pus, fever, a cold sore outbreak, or any change in vision after treatment near the eyes.

Why Choose Dr. Parsa for Acne Scar Treatment

• Reconstructive Surgery Background: Fellowship training in oculoplastic and reconstructive surgery grounds his understanding of how skin and soft tissue heal after injury.
• Wound Healing in Print: He coauthored the chapter on eyelid lacerations in the textbook Ocular Trauma, work that centers on repairing injured skin with the least visible scarring.
• Eye-Area Precision: Scars on the upper cheeks often extend toward the lower eyelids, where his oculoplastic training guides safer treatment near delicate eyelid skin.
• Multiple Technologies Under One Roof: Microneedling, radiofrequency, fractional lasers, IPL, and peels are all available, so the plan follows your scars rather than a single device.
• Teaching Role: As an Adjunct Clinical Professor at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, he stays engaged with current techniques and evidence.

Schedule an Acne Scar Consultation in Beverly Hills

Your first visit is a hands-on evaluation at our office at 465 N Roxbury Dr, Suite 1011, in Beverly Hills. Dr. Parsa and his team will identify your scar types, review your skin history, and map out a realistic plan with an honest timeline. Contact our office to request an appointment.