Here at SculptMD, in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, we talk to many people who want to eliminate unsightly scars left by acne and other skin injuries. Acne scarring is a common skin complaint. Approximately 80% of people experience some degree of acne during their lives, and up to 20% of them will develop scars.

If you don’t like the look of your skin because of scarring, or any other imperfection, our team offers state-of-the-art Cutera® microneedling treatments to improve the texture, condition, and appearance of your skin.

What causes scarring?

Scars from following skin damage. Acne, for example, causes inflammation in and around a clogged pore. The swelling can break down the collagen and elastin in your skin. While small scars can heal independently, larger pimples can push into the surrounding tissue and cause more significant damage. This can result in a depressed scar if your skin can’t repair itself or a raised scar if your skin overproduces collagen for repair.

Of course, other types of damage can cause scarring. Stretch marks are a type of scar that develops when your weight changes rapidly and your skin can’t expand or contract fast enough to keep up.

How does microneedling reduce the appearance of scars?

Microneedling stimulates collagen production deep within your skin. The needles trigger your body’s healing response, even though the tiny puncture wounds close almost immediately. As your body makes fresh collagen, it plumps your skin, which reduces the appearance of depressed scars.

Here at SculptMD, we use Cutera microneedling, which adds radiofrequency energy to the treatment. The energy heats your skin, which intensifies your healing response with even more dramatic results.

What should I expect during a microneedling treatment?

We get it; microneedling sounds kind of scary, but it’s not bad. Before we start your treatment, we carefully clean your skin and ensure that no bacteria are present. Then we apply a topical numbing cream.

Once your skin is numb, we use the hand-held Cutera device to microneedle your skin. You might feel some pressure or warmth, but our patients report that microneedling isn’t painful. Depending on the size of the area we treat, your microneedling could be complete in less than a half-hour.

Your skin will be pink after your treatment, but this should subside within 24 hours. We can also recommend skin care products to soothe your skin after your treatment. You should take care to avoid the sun and wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day.

What if I have scars elsewhere on my body?

Good news — if you have scars or stretch marks on other parts of your body, we can treat those with microneedling, too. We can talk about your treatment options during your consultation.

Give us a call or schedule a consultation online to learn more about microneedling and how it can reduce your scars’ appearance and improve your skin.