If you have recently found an effective treatment for clearing up your acne blemishes, you may be disappointed to see scars and pigmentation left behind. However, treatment for acne scarring is available in many forms, and the type that will benefit you depends on the severity of the scarring. Dermatologists often use a multifaceted approach to treat scarring because multiple types of scars are often present.

Skin Lighteners

If your skin has pigment changes, or hyperpigmentation, at the site of your old breakouts, a skin-lightening lotion containing hydroquinone may treat the problem. Hydroquinone is available in concentrations of up to 2 percent without a prescription, and may be effective at fading the red or brown discoloration that sometimes occurs after an acne breakout.

Laser Resurfacing

Your dermatologist may recommend laser resurfacing to reduce the appearance of depressed scars. According to the Mayo Clinic, during laser resurfacing, a laser is used to remove the top layers of skin, allowing new skin to take its place. This new skin is smoother, with fewer imperfections. If you undergo laser resurfacing, you can expect to have an aftercare regimen for your skin with antibiotics and dressings, and downtime may be up to two weeks to allow proper healing.

Acne Scar Surgery

Acne scar surgery is another option for treating depressed scars, and is sometimes used along with laser resurfacing to maximize the effectiveness of both treatments. The various acne scar surgeries are typically outpatient procedures and can be done during a clinic visit with your physician. A punch graft is performed first, using a small instrument, similar to a cookie cutter, to remove the depressed scar. Following this, your doctor may choose to do a punch elevation, raising the remaining tissue to the level of the outlying skin, causing it to heal evenly and reducing the scar. Another option is a punch graft, where a small portion of your skin is harvested from a donor site elsewhere on your body and grafted into the small wound to leave a more even surface.

Subcutaneous Incision

Subcutaneous incision is another outpatient procedure that your physician may use to reduce depressed scars on your skin. During this procedure, a small, needle-like instrument is used to separate the skin from the underlying scar tissue, allowing the upper layers of the skin to smooth out, reducing the appearance of the scar.

Fillers

Your physician may recommend fillers if you have depressed acne scars. According to the American Academy of Dermatology's AcneNet, one of the positives of fillers is that they produce results quickly, and most people are able to return to their daily activities immediately. Collagen or collagen substitutes are injected directly into depressed scars, evening skin surface and promoting additional collagen growth. Fillers are usually a temporary solution, and repeated treatments are required to keep up the reduction in scarring.