When is the best time to treat acne scars?

Doctor's Answer

Good to hear that you acne is subsiding! In my opinion, for acne scarring treatments, the best timing to treat scars is as early as possible, when active acne flares are not frequent and severe. I encourage addressing acne scars early due to the 3 main negative factors acting against us:

1. Atrophic scars (those that looks like small craters and pitted holes on the skin) cannot heal by themselves

2. The regenerative ability of our skin reduces with age

3. Existing scars WILL worsen with time due to intrinsic collagen breakdown

As active acne breakouts can theoretically interfere with acne scarring treatments, I always like my patients to have infrequent acne breakouts before commencing acne scarring treatments. The condition of the skin should be ascertained during the consultation process through history taking and a comprehensive skin analysis.

I understand that many acne patients experience the pain of dealing with both acne scarring and the simultaneous active acne breakouts. Thus a prudent approach for your skin will be for your doctor to manage both conditions concurrently, treating acne scars without aggravating new pimple formation, and treating any remaining active pimple lesions so as to minimise scarring.

Hope that helps.

Cheers!!

Warmest regards

Dr Heng Wee Soon

Ask any health question for free

I’m not so sure about a procedure...

Ask Icon Ask a Question

Join Human

Sign up now for a free Human account to get answers from specialists in Singapore.

Sign Up

Get The Pill

Be healthier with our Bite-sized health news straight in your inbox