Best acne scar treatment

Rank the best acne scar treatment options for you

Pick what matters most and the shortlist reorders itself. Treat it as a starting order to talk through with a board-certified dermatologist, not a diagnosis.

What the best acne scar treatment can honestly do

No treatment erases a scar. The AAD's own wording is that treatment makes scars less noticeable, and that some people see no need to treat them at all. Before you book, it suggests three honest questions: do you often wish the scars were gone, do they hold you back at work, at school or in dating, and are you less social than before you had them?

The research backs a modest view of any single winner. A 2016 Cochrane review found a lack of high-quality evidence comparing scar treatments, with moderate-quality evidence that injectable filler can help sunken scars (PMID 27038134). That is why the best acne scar treatment here means the best fit for your scars, your skin and your calendar.

Medical insurance does not cover scar treatment, so budget is part of the conversation too.

At-Home Topical Treatments (For Discoloration & Mild Texture)

Retinoids

A retinoid applied to the skin can make mild scarring less noticeable. Your dermatologist may also have you use one for a few weeks before a peel, as part of pre-peel priming. Adapalene 0.1% gel has been sold without a prescription in the US since 2016, per the FDA's switch list.

Acids (Salicylic)

Salicylic acid is the other topical the AAD names for mild scarring. Neither one fills a deep pit, and that is the honest limit of anything you can buy for home use. Flat red, pink or brown marks are a different story: they usually aren't scars at all and fade over time.

In-Office Procedures (For Deep or Indented Scars)

Laser Resurfacing

Dermatologists resurface scarred skin with a laser, and as it heals the skin makes collagen and elastin, which softens the look of scars. A laser can also contour the edges around a scar. Some lasers need more sessions than others, and lasers also treat the small raised bumps called papular scars.

Microneedling / RF Microneedling

Also called collagen induction therapy, microneedling punctures the skin with tiny needles so it makes new collagen. Radiofrequency microneedling adds radiofrequency energy and can give less noticeable scars than either one alone. The AAD calls both safe for all skin tones. The FDA has authorized certain microneedling devices for facial acne scars in people aged 22 or older, notes that some were not studied in darker skin, and issued a safety communication on radiofrequency microneedling on October 15, 2025. Ask which device is used and ask for a new needle cartridge every session.

Subcision + Fillers

Subcision passes a needle under a scar to cut the fibrous bands that tie it down, so the skin can rise. DermNet describes it for rolling scars but not deep ice pick scars, and notes that three to six visits at least a month apart cover most moderate cases. A filler then adds volume. Most fillers last from 3 months to 2 years and need touch-ups. The FDA says permanent fillers are approved only for smile lines and cheek acne scars, and that filler safety is unknown in people prone to keloids or hypertrophic scars.

Chemical peels

A peel helps the skin make more collagen and elastin. Mild and medium peels usually take more than one session, and you'll protect your skin from the sun beforehand to prevent new discoloration. For narrow pits, dermatologists can dab a strong peel solution into each scar, a technique DermNet calls TCA CROSS.

Before you book

Tell your dermatologist about every acne treatment you use now or have used in the last two years. Starting some scar treatments during, or soon after, certain acne medicines can cause unwanted side effects.

If breakouts are still coming, every new deep one can leave a fresh mark, so read how to prevent acne scars before paying to treat the old ones.

Adults who still break out in their thirties and beyond are in the same spot; the guide to adult acne covers getting that under control first.

Then bring answers to the four questions the AAD suggests, so your dermatologist can match the best acne scar treatment to your goals:

• How do I want my skin to look after treatment?
• What can I afford to spend?
• How much downtime can I take?
• How much time will I give to treatment and to caring for my skin?

Raised scars and keloids

Raised scars form when skin makes too much collagen while healing, and they are more common in darker skin tones. A hypertrophic scar feels firm, usually shows up on the jawline, chest or back, and appears 1 to 2 months after a breakout clears. A keloid grows larger than the breakout; the first sign is thickening skin, often 3 to 12 months later, and a pressure garment at that stage can prevent it or keep it smaller.

Deep breakouts along the chin and jaw are a common source of raised scars, which is why acne on chin is worth treating early.

For hypertrophic scars, dermatologists may use lasers, corticosteroid injections or a prescription medicine applied to the scar. Keloids usually need two or more treatments together, and some return.

Sources

1. Acne scars: Consultation and treatment, American Academy of Dermatology, 2023.
2. Microneedling Devices, US Food and Drug Administration, updated 2025.
3. Acne scars: Signs and symptoms, American Academy of Dermatology, 2023.
4. Acne scars: Who gets and causes, American Academy of Dermatology, 2023.
5. Interventions for acne scars, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2016, PMID 27038134.
6. Dermal Fillers (Soft Tissue Fillers), US Food and Drug Administration.
7. Prescription to nonprescription switch list, US Food and Drug Administration.
8. Acne scarring, DermNet.
9. Subcision, DermNet.
10. Chemical peels, DermNet.