Most facial scars can be flattened or faded, and the treatment that works best depends on whether the scar is raised, sunken, or acne-related.
Hydrogen peroxide is the wrong move on a face — the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) warns it can damage skin that is still trying to close itself. Raised scars and sunken ones need opposite approaches; the wrong one can make a depressed scar look worse.
Which Treatments For Face Scars Have The Strongest Evidence?
Silicone gel or sheets, corticosteroid injections, laser and light treatments, cryosurgery, and scar surgery hold the strongest evidence for raised scars and keloids. Microneedling, laser resurfacing, and chemical peels are the ones dermatologists reach for most often on acne scars.
- Silicone gel or sheets. The best-studied home option for raised scars. AAD notes silicone has been used since 1982, and it can reduce a scar’s size, hardness, redness, swelling, itch, and stiffness.
- Corticosteroid injections. A dermatologist injects steroid into a raised scar to shrink it and calm itch or pain. Several appointments are often needed.
- Lasers and light treatments.
- Have it done by a medical doctor with skin or cosmetic expertise, such as a board-certified dermatologist.
- Cryosurgery and scar surgery. Freezing flattens tough raised scars; surgery is considered when a scar limits how your face moves.
Treatments do not cross over: raised scars respond to silicone, steroid injections, freezing, and lasers, while sunken acne scars respond to microneedling, resurfacing, and peels. Something that flattened a friend’s keloid will do nothing for an ice-pick scar.
If you would rather start with an over-the-counter product, silicone gels carry the best evidence — our roundup of tested creams for removing face scars covers the formulas worth trying.
What Decides The Outcome
Scar type, location on your face, skin tone, and age decide which treatment gets offered. The AAD’s scar treatment guidance notes plainly that the wrong modality can underperform or make the appearance worse. One face-specific rule catches people off guard: pressure therapy, standard for raised scars on the body, is not an option for facial wounds.
| Scar Type | Treatments With The Best Evidence | What To Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Raised scar or keloid | Silicone gel or sheets, corticosteroid injections | Softer, flatter, less red over months |
| Stubborn raised scar | Cryosurgery, laser or light treatment, scar surgery | Flattening; surgery considered when movement is affected |
| Depressed acne scars | Microneedling, laser resurfacing, chemical peels | 50% to 70% fading with microneedling after 3 to 5 sessions |
| Textured acne scarring | Dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, scar surgery | Smoother surface across multiple sessions |
| Mild scarring and flat marks | Topical retinoid or salicylic acid | Less noticeable, with no change in depth |
| Scars on darker skin tones | Hyaluronic acid fillers, plus the treatments above | Better blending; distensible scars respond best |
| Scar limits movement | Scar surgery or resurfacing | Aimed at restoring function first |
Before And After Treatment
Preventing a scar is easier than treating one. Keep a healing wound clean with soap and water, skip hydrogen peroxide, and get stitches when a cut needs them. For acne, AAD’s advice is short: treat it when you first notice it and keep treating it, and never pick, pop, scratch, or squeeze a breakout. Over-the-counter retinoids and salicylic acid can make mild acne scarring less noticeable, but they will not refill a sunken scar or flatten a thick one.
Anything raised, painful, itchy, or tight enough to limit movement deserves a board-certified dermatologist. Here is the order that saves the most time, money, and frustration:
- Photograph the scar in the same light each month, so progress gets judged on evidence rather than memory.
- Start silicone gel or sheets on a raised scar — the best-evidenced option you can use at home.
- Book a board-certified dermatologist for keloids, depressed acne scars, or anything itchy or painful.
- Keep active acne treated and your hands off it; that single habit lowers your risk of new scars.
- Expect a series, not a session: microneedling for acne scars usually runs 3 to 5 appointments, 2 to 4 weeks apart.
FAQs
Do facial scars fade on their own?
Flat red or brown marks from acne often fade over months without treatment. Raised scars and keloids rarely disappear by themselves, and depressed acne scars do not refill on their own. A board-certified dermatologist can identify which type you have and whether waiting is worthwhile.
Is At-Home Microneedling Risky For Your Face?
AAD recommends microneedling be done by a medical doctor with skin or cosmetic expertise, such as a board-certified dermatologist. Acne scar treatment typically runs 3 to 5 sessions, 2 to 4 weeks apart.
Can A Cream Remove A Facial Scar?
Silicone gel and sheets can soften and flatten a raised scar over time, and topical retinoids or salicylic acid may make mild acne scarring less noticeable. No cream removes a sunken or thick scar. Those need procedures such as microneedling, laser resurfacing, or corticosteroid injections from a dermatologist.
References & Sources
- American Academy of Dermatology. “Scars: Diagnosis and treatment.” Supp</