Pitted Acne Scars: What’s the Best Skin-Smoothing Treatment Solution?
Jun 03, 2026
Your active acne breakouts have finally come to an end, but now you’re left with pitted acne scars that make your skin tone and texture uneven. There are plenty of over-the-counter (OTC) creams, serums, and treatments that promise to smooth your complexion, but the truth is that acne scars aren’t easy to treat without professional help.
Our team at Advanced Laser and Skin Cancer Center offers the latest in skincare and acne scar treatment, and we’re ready to help you achieve smoother, more even-toned skin. Here’s what you need to know about acne scarring and what the best acne scar treatment solutions are.
Acne inflames your skin, and when you get a breakout, it’s easy to see the damage done to surface layers. Pitted acne scars can happen when severe lesions like cysts, nodules, and deep pustules damage deeper layers of skin beyond the surface.
When those deep lesions heal, your body doesn’t always produce enough collagen during the repair process to restore your skin fully. This collagen deficiency causes the skin to heal with a depression or pit rather than returning to its original smooth surface.
The two main types of pitted scars are icepick scars and boxcar scars. Icepick scars are narrow, deep, and sharply defined (they look exactly like someone punctured your skin with a tiny ice pick). Boxcar scars are wider depressions with sharply defined edges, creating rectangular or oval indentations in your skin.
Icepick scars are deep, creating visible holes or pores that are much larger than normal. Boxcar scars are shallower, but may be more noticeable due to their larger size. Both types represent actual tissue loss beneath your skin's surface, where supporting collagen and tissue should exist but don't.
Countless products promise to fade or eliminate acne scars, but even if you use them perfectly, you probably see minimal to no improvement, and there's a scientific reason for why. Topical creams and serums simply can't rebuild lost tissue or fill in structural deficits in your skin.
OTC products work on your skin's surface or penetrate only into the uppermost layers. They might improve skin texture, fade discoloration, or provide mild exfoliation, but they can't stimulate the deep collagen production needed to fill pitted scars from below.
The damage exists in the dermis (the deep layer of skin), while topical products affect only the epidermis (the surface layer). That’s why pitted scars require treatments that reach deep tissue and either rebuild what's missing or physically fill the depression.
Acne scars are tough to treat, and that’s why we take a comprehensive approach. We start with a skin exam, then recommend treatment tailored to your specific scar type, depth, and skin characteristics. A few of the most effective options are:
Fractional laser resurfacing is one of the most effective treatments for pitted acne scars. We use laser energy to create thousands of microscopic treatment zones in your skin, triggering your body's natural healing response and stimulating new collagen production. New collagen forms following treatment, and it fills in depressed areas from beneath to raise the scar tissue closer to the level of surrounding skin.
Chemical peels remove damaged outer layers of skin, reveal fresher skin beneath, and stimulate collagen production. While superficial peels may not be right for pitted acne scars, medium-depth peels can soften the edges of boxcar scars and deep peels can provide more significant resurfacing.
Chemical peels work particularly well for treating multiple shallow scars across larger areas of your face. We customize the peel strength and formulation based on your skin type and scar severity.
For deep icepick scars or particularly pronounced boxcar scars, injectable dermal fillers can deliver immediate results. We inject hyaluronic acid or other filling materials directly beneath the depressed scar, physically lifting it to match the surrounding skin level.
Fillers offer instant results that you can see immediately after treatment. The effects are temporary, typically lasting six months to two years depending on the product used, but they provide significant cosmetic improvement while you undergo other treatments that build collagen for longer-term results.
Your personalized treatment plan depends on your scar types, skin tone, healing capacity, and aesthetic goals. Most people achieve optimal results through a combination of treatments rather than relying on a single option.
For example, we might use laser resurfacing to stimulate overall collagen production and improve texture, fillers to immediately address the deepest depressions, and chemical peels to refine results and maintain improvements, all with the goal of helping you achieve your smoothest, most natural-looking results possible.
Pitted acne scars might seem permanent, but professional treatment can dramatically improve your skin's appearance and texture. Contact us online or call our Teaneck, New Jersey, office at 201-836-9696 for a consultation.