Yes, acne scars do go away with modern laser treatments, though “go away” means significant visible improvement rather than 100% erasure. A 2025 systematic review published in the journal Life found that most patients who received fractional CO2 laser treatments experienced 30% to 70% improvement in scar appearance. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), over 3.7 million skin resurfacing procedures were performed in the United States in 2024, a 6% jump from the previous year. More people than ever are turning to laser technology to address the texture changes that acne leaves behind.
This article covers how modern lasers work on different types of acne scars, which laser approaches produce the strongest results, what to expect during the healing process, how many sessions you may need, and how to combine treatments for the best possible outcome.
Do Acne Scars Go Away With Modern Laser Treatments?
Acne scars do go away with modern laser treatments in the sense that they become significantly less visible and the skin’s texture improves dramatically. Lasers cannot erase a scar completely as though it never existed, but they can rebuild the collagen structure underneath and smooth the surface to a point where scars are barely noticeable. A study published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology found that pulsed dye laser (PDL) treatment decreased clinical scarring by 68% compared to untreated skin in patients with erythematous and hypertrophic acne scars.
The key is matching the right laser to the right scar type. Acne affects approximately 9.4% of the global population, making it the eighth most common disease worldwide, according to the Global Burden of Disease Project. A meta-analysis published in Skin Research and Technology involving over 24,600 acne patients found that 47% of them developed acne scars. That means nearly half of everyone who gets acne ends up with some degree of scarring that could benefit from professional treatment.
What Are the Two Types of Acne Scars?
The two main types of acne scars are atrophic scars (depressed or sunken) and hypertrophic scars (raised). Atrophic scars are far more common, outnumbering hypertrophic and keloid scars by a ratio of about 3 to 1, according to a review published in Dermatology Research and Practice.
What Are Atrophic Acne Scars?
Atrophic acne scars sit below the surface of the surrounding skin because the body did not produce enough collagen during the healing process. They are further divided into three subtypes. Ice pick scars are the most common, making up 60% to 70% of all atrophic scars. They are narrow, deep, and V-shaped. Boxcar scars account for 20% to 30% and have wider, flat bottoms with sharp vertical edges. Rolling scars make up 15% to 25% and create a wave-like appearance because fibrous bands pull the skin down from underneath.
Each subtype responds differently to laser treatment. Shallow boxcar scars and rolling scars tend to respond well to fractional lasers. Deep ice pick scars are the most stubborn and often need a combination approach. A study from Dermatology Practical and Conceptual found that acne scars were present in 71.3% of the 269 patients studied, and scar severity was directly tied to acne severity and earlier onset of the disease.
What Are Hypertrophic and Keloid Scars?
Hypertrophic scars and keloids are raised scars that form when the body produces too much collagen during healing. Hypertrophic scars stay within the borders of the original wound, while keloids grow beyond those borders. These types of scars are less common on the face but can occur on the jawline, chest, and back. Laser treatments like pulsed dye lasers can help flatten and soften these scars by targeting the excess blood vessels that feed them. We often combine laser skin treatments with other modalities for the best outcome on raised scars.
What Is the Number One Acne Scar Treatment?
The number one acne scar treatment is fractional CO2 laser resurfacing. It is considered the gold standard for atrophic acne scars because it combines ablative precision with fractional delivery, meaning it removes tiny columns of damaged skin while leaving surrounding tissue intact for faster healing. A 2025 study published in the Journal of Aesthetic Medicine found that patients treated with fractional CO2 laser achieved up to 60% improvement in their scar scores, as measured by the ECCA clinical grading scale.
Fractional CO2 lasers work by vaporizing microscopic channels in the skin. This controlled injury triggers a powerful wound-healing response that floods the area with new collagen. Over the following months, the new collagen fills in depressed scars and smooths the skin’s surface. The collagen remodeling process continues for three to six months after treatment, according to UT Southwestern Medical Center.
What Is the Newest Acne Scar Treatment?
The newest acne scar treatment is the fractional picosecond laser. Unlike traditional fractional lasers that rely mainly on heat (photothermal effects), picosecond lasers use ultra-short pulses measured in trillionths of a second to create photomechanical effects in the skin. This means they break up scar tissue and stimulate collagen rebuilding with less thermal damage to the surrounding area.
A meta-analysis published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology in 2023 found that fractional picosecond lasers produce similar clinical improvement to traditional fractional lasers for atrophic acne scars, but with a lower risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and lower pain scores. This makes picosecond lasers especially promising for patients with darker skin tones, who historically faced higher pigmentation risks with older laser technology. Hybrid fractional lasers, which combine ablative and non-ablative wavelengths in a single device, are another modern advance that offers strong scar improvement with a balanced recovery period.
Which Is Better, an IPL or CO2 Laser?
A CO2 laser is better than IPL for treating acne scars. IPL (intense pulsed light) is a broadband light device, not a true laser. It works well for surface-level concerns like redness, sun spots, and mild pigmentation, but it does not penetrate deep enough to remodel the collagen structure that determines scar depth and texture.
CO2 lasers deliver focused energy at a specific wavelength (10,600 nm) that vaporizes damaged tissue and reaches the deeper dermis where collagen lives. For patients dealing with textured acne scars, a CO2 laser or another true fractional laser is the better choice. IPL can be used as a complementary step to address leftover redness or discoloration after the structural scar has been treated. BBL Hero is a powerful broadband light option we use for pigmentation and tone correction that works nicely alongside laser resurfacing.
Is It Possible to 100% Get Rid of Acne Scars?
No, it is not possible to 100% get rid of acne scars with any single treatment available today. However, modern laser technology can reduce scar visibility by 50% to 70% or more, depending on the scar type, depth, and the number of treatment sessions. For many patients, the improvement is so significant that scars are only noticeable under very close inspection or harsh lighting.
Combining different treatment types often delivers the closest results to complete scar removal. For example, fractional CO2 laser for structural texture, subcision for releasing tethered rolling scars, and PRP for boosting the body’s healing response can be layered together over a series of appointments. Research from the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology found that 75.4% of patients with facial acne scars identified their scars as a personal concern, and 76% reported feeling self-conscious. Getting the scars as close to invisible as possible makes a real difference in how people feel about their skin.
What Happens After 3 Laser Sessions?
After 3 laser sessions, most patients see a clear difference in the depth, color, and overall texture of their acne scars. The skin looks smoother, pore size appears smaller, and uneven pigmentation fades. Collagen continues to build between sessions, so each treatment compounds the improvements of the one before it.
A systematic review in the journal Life confirmed that scar reduction across multiple studies was most often assessed at 30% to 70% improvement, with results typically looking even better at the six-month and twelve-month marks compared to the three-month mark. We typically space treatments four to eight weeks apart to give the skin enough time to heal and generate new collagen before the next session.
How Many Months Does Laser Take?
Laser treatment for acne scars takes three to nine months from start to finish for most patients. A standard treatment plan involves three to five sessions spaced four to eight weeks apart. After the final session, the collagen remodeling process continues for an additional three to six months. According to UT Southwestern Medical Center, heat from laser resurfacing causes collagen deposition that keeps improving skin quality for three to six months after the procedure.
The total timeline depends on the severity of the scars, the type of laser used, and whether combination treatments are part of the plan. Deeper scars and more aggressive ablative treatments may require longer recovery between sessions but often need fewer total treatments. Lighter non-ablative approaches may need more sessions but offer faster healing between each one.
What Are the Hardest Acne Scars to Get Rid Of?
The hardest acne scars to get rid of are deep ice pick scars. Ice pick scars are narrow, V-shaped depressions that extend deep into the dermis or even the subcutaneous tissue. Their depth makes them resistant to surface-level treatments, including standard microneedling and mild chemical peels. According to research published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, ice pick scars make up 60% to 70% of all atrophic acne scars, which means most people dealing with acne scarring are facing the most difficult type.
Treating ice pick scars usually requires a multi-step approach. Fractional CO2 laser helps rebuild collagen around the scar, but combining it with punch excision (surgically removing the narrow scar tract) or TCA CROSS (applying concentrated trichloroacetic acid directly into the scar) often gives better results than laser alone. Rolling scars respond well to subcision combined with laser, and boxcar scars tend to be the most responsive to fractional resurfacing on their own.
What Actually Fades Acne Scars?
What actually fades acne scars is any treatment that stimulates the production of new collagen in the dermis. Fractional lasers do this by creating controlled micro-injuries that force the skin to heal with fresh, healthy tissue. Radiofrequency treatments deliver heat energy through micro-needles to stimulate collagen at deeper levels. Chemical peels remove damaged outer skin layers to promote cell turnover. PRP therapy uses growth factors from your own blood to accelerate the healing and rebuilding process.
A retrospective study from Siriraj Hospital found that at six months, 88% of fractional radiofrequency patients and 72% of fractional laser patients achieved at least 25% clinical improvement in acne scars. The common thread across all effective scar treatments is collagen remodeling. Without new collagen, a scar stays the same. Every approach that works does so because it tells the body to produce more collagen exactly where the scar sits.
Can Microneedling Improve Acne Scars?
Yes, microneedling can improve acne scars by creating thousands of tiny puncture wounds in the skin that trigger the body’s natural healing response and stimulate new collagen production. Standard microneedling is effective for mild to moderate rolling and boxcar scars. However, for deeper or more severe scarring, combining microneedling with radiofrequency energy, like Morpheus8, delivers significantly stronger results because the RF energy reaches deeper tissue layers that standard needles alone cannot affect.
Research from the Indian Journal of Dermatology found that in a study of 104 patients treated with fractional CO2 laser for acne scars, 55.8% were very satisfied and 25% were satisfied with their results. Microneedling with RF can achieve comparable satisfaction levels with less downtime for the right candidates. We evaluate each patient’s scar type and depth at our Bloomfield Hills office to recommend the best approach.
What Makes Acne Scars Worse?
What makes acne scars worse is picking at active acne, delaying treatment of inflammatory breakouts, unprotected sun exposure, and smoking. Picking or squeezing pimples pushes bacteria deeper into the skin and increases inflammation, which leads to more collagen damage and deeper scars. The longer inflammatory acne goes untreated, the greater the chance of permanent scarring. A study from Dermatology Practical and Conceptual found that patients with severe acne had 5.51 times higher odds of developing scars compared to those with mild acne.
Sun exposure after acne heals can darken post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (the dark marks left behind), making scars look more noticeable even if the texture has not changed. Smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and slows collagen production, which impairs the body’s ability to repair itself. Avoiding these triggers and getting active acne under control early are two of the most effective things anyone can do to prevent scars from getting worse.
What Age Is Worst for Acne?
The worst age for acne is the teenage years, typically between 12 and 18, when hormonal changes drive excess oil production. According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, acne affects more than 80% of adolescents and young adults. However, acne is not limited to teenagers. The ALL study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in 2024 and involving over 50,000 people across 20 countries, found that women (23.6%) are more affected by acne than men (17.5%) in adulthood.
For scar prevention, early treatment of inflammatory acne is critical regardless of age. The sooner breakouts are brought under control, the less structural damage occurs in the skin. We see patients of all ages for acne management and scar treatment, because both concerns deserve attention at every stage of life.
Will I See Results After One Laser Session?
Yes, you will see some results after one laser session, though the changes will be subtle at first. Within the first one to two weeks after treatment, most patients notice brighter, smoother skin as the old damaged layer peels away and fresh skin emerges. The deeper improvements in scar texture take longer because collagen rebuilding is a gradual process that unfolds over months.
A study published in the Asian Journal of Surgery found that after a single session of fractional CO2 laser, 16 out of 25 patients showed 26% to 50% improvement and 4 patients showed 51% to 75% improvement at the one-month follow-up. By three months, results looked even better. Most treatment plans call for three to five sessions because each one adds another layer of improvement. We always set honest expectations so patients know what one session can realistically achieve versus a full series.
How Different Laser Types Compare for Acne Scars
| Laser Type | Mechanism | Best Scar Types | Improvement Range | Typical Downtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fractional CO2 (Ablative) | Vaporizes micro-columns of skin, deep collagen remodeling | Boxcar, rolling, moderate ice pick | 40% to 70% | 5 to 10 days |
| Erbium (Er:YAG) Laser | Removes surface layers with less heat spread | Shallow boxcar, rolling, mild scars | 36% to 57% (good to excellent) | 3 to 7 days |
| Fractional Picosecond Laser | Photomechanical collagen remodeling via ultra-short pulses | All atrophic types, darker skin tones | 30% to 50% | 1 to 3 days |
| Hybrid Fractional Laser | Combines ablative + non-ablative wavelengths | Mixed scar types, moderate depth | 40% to 60% | 3 to 7 days |
| Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL) | Targets blood vessels, reduces redness and raised scars | Erythematous scars, hypertrophic scars | Up to 68% redness reduction | 0 to 2 days |
Sources: Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology (PMC5749614), journal Life systematic review (2025), Journal of Aesthetic Medicine (2025), Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology meta-analysis (2023), Asian Journal of Surgery
How to Prepare Your Skin Before Laser Scar Treatment
Preparing your skin before laser scar treatment helps you heal faster and get better results. Stop using retinoids and any exfoliating acids at least one to two weeks before your appointment, as these can thin the skin and increase sensitivity to the laser. If you take isotretinoin (Accutane), most providers require stopping it for at least six months before ablative laser treatment because it impairs wound healing.
Daily sunscreen use for at least four weeks before treatment is important to avoid treating skin that is actively tanned or sun-damaged. A good medical-grade skincare routine before and after laser treatment supports the healing process and helps your results last longer. We walk every patient through a custom preparation plan during the consultation.
How to Get the Best Results After Laser Scar Treatment
Getting the best results after laser scar treatment requires protecting the healing skin and supporting collagen production. Keep the treated area moisturized, avoid direct sun exposure, and apply broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every day. The Skin Cancer Foundation notes that UV exposure causes up to 90% of visible skin changes, and freshly lasered skin is especially vulnerable. Skipping sunscreen after laser treatment can undo your progress and cause new pigmentation issues.
Avoid picking at any peeling or crusting skin. The body is actively rebuilding tissue underneath, and disrupting that process can lead to uneven results. Some patients benefit from adding PRP therapy after laser treatment to accelerate healing and boost collagen production. A study from Faghihi et al. found that combining fractional CO2 laser with PRP showed greater improvement than laser alone, though the difference was modest.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Months Does Laser Take to Remove Acne Scars?
Laser takes three to nine months to remove acne scars when you count the full series of treatments plus the collagen remodeling period afterward. Most patients receive three to five sessions spaced four to eight weeks apart. Collagen continues to rebuild for three to six months after the final session, so the full benefit takes time to appear.
What Is the Best Laser Treatment for 50-Year-Olds With Acne Scars?
The best laser treatment for 50-year-olds with acne scars is fractional CO2 laser resurfacing. At 50, the skin has less natural collagen production, so a laser that creates a strong collagen-building response is ideal. Fractional CO2 lasers address both the scar texture and the general signs of aging like fine lines and uneven tone, making them a two-in-one solution for mature skin.
Can Radiofrequency Skin Tightening Help With Acne Scars?
Yes, radiofrequency skin tightening can help with acne scars, especially when delivered through microneedle devices like Morpheus8. The radiofrequency energy heats the deeper dermis to stimulate collagen remodeling, which smooths depressed scars over time. A retrospective study from Siriraj Hospital reported that 88% of fractional radiofrequency patients achieved at least 25% improvement in acne scars at six months.
Is 6 Sessions of CO2 Laser Enough for Acne Scars?
Yes, 6 sessions of CO2 laser is typically more than enough for most acne scars. Many patients see significant improvement after just 3 to 4 fractional CO2 sessions. Deeper ice pick scars may need additional treatments or combination therapy, but 6 sessions of fractional CO2 laser should deliver substantial results for the majority of patients.
What Is the Most Painful Area to Laser for Acne Scars?
The most painful area to laser for acne scars is the skin around the nose, upper lip, and forehead, because these areas have thinner skin and more nerve endings. Topical numbing cream applied 30 to 60 minutes before treatment significantly reduces discomfort. Most patients describe the sensation as a warm, prickling feeling that is tolerable throughout the session.
Can Chemical Peels Help Fade Acne Scars?
Chemical peels can help fade mild acne scars by removing damaged outer layers of skin and promoting new cell growth. Medium-depth peels work best for shallow scarring and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. For deeper atrophic scars, peels are best used as a supporting treatment alongside fractional laser resurfacing rather than as a standalone solution.
Does Retinol Help With Acne Scars?
Retinol does help with acne scars over time by increasing cell turnover and stimulating mild collagen production. However, retinol works slowly and produces modest improvements compared to professional laser treatments. It is most effective as part of a daily skincare routine that supports and maintains the results of in-office procedures rather than as a replacement for them.
The Takeaway
Modern laser technology has changed what is possible for acne scars. Fractional CO2 lasers, picosecond lasers, hybrid systems, and combination approaches can deliver 30% to 70% or more improvement in scar visibility, backed by peer-reviewed clinical data. Nearly half of all acne patients develop scars, and the psychological impact is real, with over 75% of affected people reporting self-consciousness about their skin. The good news is that today’s treatments are more precise, more customizable, and more effective than anything available even a few years ago.
The most important step is getting a professional evaluation to match the right approach to your specific scar types. At FACE Skincare~Medical~Wellness, we are here to help you build a treatment plan that fits your skin, your goals, and your timeline.
If you are ready to start, request a consultation or call us at (248) 663-0161.
