Acne can leave marks long after the pimples have gone. Some marks are dents in the skin. Others are flat patches of darker or redder colour. They look different, they form differently, and they respond to different treatments.

This guide explains why scar type matters, what recent research says about microneedling, superficial peels and PRP, and what a realistic treatment course looks like. It is general information, not personal medical advice. Results vary, and no treatment removes scars completely.

What acne-scar treatments does Silk Clinical offer in Christchurch? For selected mild acne-scar texture, Silk offers mechanical microneedling. For flat post-acne colour marks, its Pro Dermal Active peels may be suitable. Its PRP Vampire Facial combines PRP with microneedling. An assessment determines whether any of these fits your skin; deep or tethered scars may need a specialist.

Texture and colour are two different problems

When people say "acne scars", they often mean two separate things.

The first is a change in texture. Atrophic scars are the common type, where skin sits lower than the skin around it. They can look like shallow dishes, narrow pits or sharp-edged dents. Raised scars also exist, but they are less common on the face and need a different approach.

The second is a change in colour. After a pimple heals, the skin may stay brown or pink for weeks or months. Brown marks are called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. These marks are not true scars, because the skin surface is still flat. They often fade with time, sun protection and gentle surface treatment.

Mixing the two up leads to the wrong plan. A superficial peel may help a flat brown mark. It is unlikely to lift a deep pit.

Why an assessment comes first

A good assessment looks at several things:

  • the depth and shape of each scar
  • how much of your concern is colour rather than texture
  • your skin tone, since darker skin is more prone to pigment change after irritation
  • whether your acne is still active
  • your health history, medicines and healing pattern

Treatment on active acne or unsettled skin can make things worse. Some concerns also sit outside what a clinic like ours should treat. Deep, tethered or very severe scars may need a doctor or specialist who offers other procedures. If that is you, we will say so and suggest you see a suitable clinician rather than start a course that is unlikely to help.

What Silk Clinical offers for acne scarring

Silk Clinical offers mechanical microneedling for selected mild texture concerns and mild acne scarring. A pen with fine needles makes tiny controlled punctures in the skin, which prompts the skin to repair itself.

We also offer superficial skin peels. These work on the top layers of skin and suit surface tone and fine texture. They are not a treatment for deep scars.

We do not offer radiofrequency microneedling, fractional laser, subcision or deep peels. Some of those appear in the research below, so it helps to know that the evidence is not all about what we provide.

What the research says about microneedling and peels

A review of microneedling and chemical peels included 11 studies comprising 713 participants. It compared the two for atrophic acne scars and was published in 2026.

For clinically significant improvement (five studies; n = 215), the review found no significant difference between microneedling and chemical peels (RR = 0.97; 95% CI: 0.82-1.15). In plain terms, neither was clearly better at producing a large improvement.

The picture changed for smaller gains. The same review reported that microneedling was associated with a significantly higher likelihood of achieving any improvement (four studies; n = 264; RR = 1.79; 95% CI: 1.37-2.34). That fits with microneedling being aimed at texture.

There are limits. The trials were a mix of randomised and non-randomised designs, and the review pooled different peel types and needle protocols. The result may not apply to deep scars, and it says little about how long results last. What you should do with this: treat it as a reason to ask which approach suits your scar type, not as a promise of a result.

What the laser comparison adds

You may see fractional CO₂ laser mentioned online. A 2026 meta-analysis of laser and needling included a total of 17 studies in adults with atrophic facial scars.

In that review, pigmentation after treatment was more common with fractional CO₂ laser than with standard microneedling (RR = 3.04; 95% CI: 1.49–6.21). That matters if you have a deeper skin tone or a tendency to pigment.

The same analysis found no clear average difference in scar-score or quantitative-scar reduction, and results varied substantially between studies. Yet the review found a modest higher rate of categorical treatment success with fractional CO₂ laser than with radiofrequency microneedling (RR = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.01–1.20).

That is not a comparison with the mechanical microneedling Silk offers. We offer neither fractional CO₂ laser nor radiofrequency microneedling; this result puts online comparisons in context, but does not choose a treatment for you.

Where PRP fits

PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, is made from a small sample of your own blood. It is sometimes applied during microneedling. We treat it as an option to assess, not a promised extra benefit.

A network meta-analysis pooled 68 randomized controlled trials comprising 4,480 patients with acne scarring. Combinations of laser with PRP ranked well on one scar score. However, those results were for laser combinations, not for microneedling with PRP alone, so they do not directly show that PRP adds benefit to the treatments we offer.

The same network analysis reported that microneedling was ranked as the most tolerable in terms of pain (SUCRA: 72.6%). Rankings like this compare treatments with each other. They do not tell you how much better your own scars will look.

If PRP is suggested for you, ask what it is expected to add, what it costs, and how we will judge whether it helped.

Healing and realistic courses

After microneedling, skin is usually pink and may feel tight or sensitive for a few days. Mild flaking or dryness can follow. Superficial peels can cause redness and light peeling for a short time.

What you do afterwards counts. Keep the skin moisturised, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily, and avoid picking or scrubbing. Tell us if you notice blistering, spreading redness, pus or unusual pain.

Most plans involve a series of sessions spaced several weeks apart, because skin needs time to repair between visits. We review progress with photos in similar lighting. If there is little change after a fair trial, we will talk about stopping or referring you on rather than continuing for the sake of it.

Expect gradual softening of mild texture or tone, not erasure. Some scars may look much the same.

Questions Christchurch readers ask

Can I treat scars while I still get pimples? Usually acne should be under reasonable control first. Ask your GP or a skin clinician about acne treatment, and we can plan around it.

Does the season matter? Sun exposure raises the risk of pigment change after treatment. Christchurch summers have strong UV, so many people prefer to start in cooler months and be strict with sunscreen.

Will one treatment fix everything? Unlikely. Mixed scar types often need more than one approach, and some are beyond what we offer.

Who may not be suited? People with active skin infections, very deep or tethered scars, or a history of unusual scarring may need a different path. An assessment is the way to find out.

Book an assessment

If acne scars bother you, the first step is to learn which type you have. At a Silk Clinical consultation we will look at your skin, explain what is likely to help and what is not, and refer you elsewhere if that serves you better. Results vary, and we do not promise scar removal.