Multidisciplinary Treatment Strategies for Acne Scars: Mechanisms and Emerging Therapeutic Approaches
DOI: https://doi.org/10.62517/jmpe.202618111
Author(s)
Guanting Jin
Affiliation(s)
Department of Exercise Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, United Stated
Abstract
Acne scars are a common sequela of inflammatory acne and remain challenging to treat. They result from abnormal wound healing following dermal injury. Disruption of collagen remodeling and fibroblast regulation leads to structural alterations in the dermis and permanent irregularities on the skin surface. Previous studies have reported that acne scars can significantly affect patients’ psychological well-being and quality of life. Various therapeutic approaches have been proposed, including drug therapy, microneedling, laser treatment, plasma devices, and autologous fat grafting. However, no single therapy is universally effective due to the complex biological mechanisms involved in scar formation. Energy-based treatments such as fractional CO₂ laser have been widely used to stimulate dermal remodeling and collagen regeneration. Microneedling therapy induces controlled micro-injury and activates fibroblast proliferation, which also contributes to collagen synthesis and skin regeneration. Recent advances in dermatologic technology emphasize multidisciplinary treatment strategies combining multiple therapeutic modalities. These combined approaches aim to target different pathological mechanisms involved in scar formation and improve overall clinical outcomes. This article reviews the biological mechanisms of acne scar formation and summarizes current treatment strategies including drug therapy, energy-based devices, plasma technology, and autologous fat grafting. A clinical case demonstrating multimodal treatment of acne scars is also presented.
Keywords
Acne Scars; Atrophic Scars; CO₂ Laser; Plasma Therapy; Autologous Fat Grafting; Dermatology
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