Acne Scar Treatments

Improve your acne scars to boost your self confidence in every social situation.

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Rediscover your true look at DermMedica…

with one of our many solutions to treat your acne…

“Aren’t you supposed to only get acne scars in highschool?”

We get that question a lot. Unfortunately the answer is no, at DermMedica we see patients of all ages with acne breakouts and scarring. Acne scars affect many people and we have laser solutions to improve these scars. Your family doctor can help you with your breakouts and we can address the scarring that is left behind.

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WHY CHOOSE US?

We always invest in the world’s best technology and products to ensure optimal results. We have 7 different lasers / treatment options at our disposal to make sure we can help you. Book your consultation today!

AREAS TREATED

FACE
CHEST
BACK
AND MORE!

EQUIPMENT / TECHNIQUES

CHEMICAL PEEL >
Erbium Laser
Fractional CO2 Laser
Photodynamic Therapy
VBEAM Laser

Our Most Popular Treatment Options

Laser Therapy

Effective for redness and acne scarring causing texture irregularities.

Procedure Time: 30-60min
Recovery Time: few days to 2 weeks
Technique: laser skin treatment
Pain Level: minimal to moderate
Lasts: Permanent
Anesthesia: Usually required for laser peels

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Chemical Peel

Procedure Time: 30-45min
Recovery Time: up to one week of peeling
Technique: with or without dermaplaning
Pain Level: none
Lasts:varies 4-6 weeks
Anesthesia: not required

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Treatment Results

Just like skin, results may vary. These pictures (of our awesome, real-life clients!) help you see what is possible and sets a realistic expectation.

We’d love to get to know you, learn more about your goals, and see what treatment options would suit you best.

Book a consultation with us today!

VIEW TREATMENT GALLERY

*Treatment results may vary from person to person

  • I have had the pleasure of seeing Dr. Crippen for awhile now, he does botox injections for me every 3 months. I was very nervous at first, but the staff and Dr. Crippen made me feel at ease right away. He is a wonderful Doctor, very caring and does a fantastic job. I highly recommend Dr. Crippen. Staff is also excellent!!! Thank you.

    LK Jan 15, 2013

  • Dr. Crippen is an absolute maser with Botox. I’ve had little filler implants done around my face, my ears and lips so far, and each operation came out looking exactly the way I had hoped. Not too puffy, not too thin.

    John Savill Sep 4, 2014

  • This place does the best work of all the skincare clinics I’ve tried in the Vancouver area. I go back periodically for new botox and juvederm injections, and they always make it look brand new and just right every single time. This place has earned my business.

    Greg Monte Aug 26, 2014

  • I was deeply impressed with the work of this clinic. We visited for my teenage daughter after over-the-counter medications had failed her. The acne removal treatment recommended and performed by Doctor Crippen was incredibly effective. We’ve been back for a couple more treatments over the years, and they are all as effective. I wanted to note in particular that he and the staff had a wonderful manner while administering treatment. My daughter typically hates clinical environments but she always felt very comfortable here.

    Phoebe Provenzano Jun 29, 2014

  • This is the only place that I’ve gone for age spots since it opened. I loved how easily I could schedule at short notice, and the commitment the staff showed to making sure that I understood everything I wanted to know. I was treated very well here.

    Yolanda Tighman Sep. 05, 2014

  • I loved how little time it took to set up the chemical peel treatment and to get it. Your clinic made the day very convenient for me, especially since two other clinics had already told me that they couldn’t fit me in that. Your chemical peel was also one of the most effective that I’ve ever had. I’m extremely satisfied.

    SeasonDucharme Sep. 5, 2014

  • I had excellent results with a Coolsculpting operation at this clinic. Dr. Crippen took me through everything I wanted to know before we started, and I was still surprised at how easy it was. It took a little longer than I would have liked for the results to kick in, but I didn’t change anything and I lost weight.

    Ami Hamann Aug 26, 2014

  • My coolsculpting treatment was first performed at this clinic, at the Kelowna location, which might be their only one. I’ve never had coolsculpting performed anywhere else, so I can’t judge the quality compared to other clinics, but it was really effective. The procedure was completely painless and didn’t even feel uncomfortable. The easiest weight I have ever lost.

    Ron Woodhouse Jul 06, 2014

  • Dr Crippen performed the Juvederm treatment in a highly professional, caring and pleasant manner. I found the entire experience to be a comfortable one and despite having some initial reservations/nervousness, both he and his extremely competent staff, made me feel totally at ease and reassured. I cannot speak highly enough of the entire experience of being treated by Dr Crippen and his staff.

    DC Feb 9, 2012

  • I chose DermMedica hoping they would be able to help me with my lips. Dr. Crippen recommended a Juvederm filler, and I’m thrilled with both how easy it was and how great it looks. I was particularly pleased with the end result of the lip filler because I’ve had friends with that swollen look, and I did not want any part of that.

    Harold Elliott Sep. 2, 2014
MORE ABOUT ACNE TREATMENTS

Acne Treatments

Acne is a very common skin condition.  It affects both men and women of almost all ages. It causes the skin to have whiteheads, blackheads or inflamed red lesions on it. Acne is most common on faces but can appear elsewhere on the body especially the shoulders or back. These whiteheads, blackheads and sores are often called pimples or zits.  There are many acne treatments available to improve the appearance of your skin.

Acne Treatments in Kelowna with Dr. Crippen

What are the symptoms of Acne Vulgaris(medical term for acne)?

Acne manifests as blackheads, whiteheads or bumps filled with air, fluid or pus. These bumps are often painful. Acne often causes redness and can result in scarring. The severity of the scarring varies depending on the individual. This scarring can be embarrassing. A person’s face is highly visible and an important part of how they present themselves to the world. Acne scar treatments in Kelowna can help remove acne scars and eliminate embarrassment.

What causes acne?

Oil that is too thick or excessive in quantity in the skin is the cause of acne. Despite rumours to the contrary, acne is generally not caused by poor diet or bad hygiene. It is often the result of your own genetics. Our bodies are covered in small pores that have a hair and an oil gland in them. When too much oil is produced, or if the oil is too thick, the pore becomes blocked and sometimes infected.  A plug forms within the blocked pore. It can either be white or black.  Some infections are deeper and more painful than others, those are cystic acne lesions.

Other causes

Hormone changes during menstruation, pregnancy or because of birth control can cause acne outbreaks or changes in the amount of oil produced. Individuals often suffer worse acne when they are stressed. Oily products can cause blocked pores. High levels or sweat and humidity can cause acne to worsen.

Preventative measures

You can make lifestyle changes and engage in non-medical treatments to reduce or help speed up the healing of acne. Wash your face with mild soaps to remove excessive dirt and makeup. Wash your hair daily. Don’t pick at, scratch or rub acne spots.  This will only aggravate the acne lesion and possibly lead to a permanent acne scar.  Use non-comedogenic skin care products. These are designed to not block pores. Also, avoid oily skin care products.

We offer the following acne treatments:

MORE ABOUT ACNE SCAR TREATMENTS

Acne Scars – Treatment Options in Kelowna

Acne scars are a permanent defect within the skin that forms following resolution of an acne lesion. These scars are often sunken-in, fibrous and can be pink or red depending on the patients skin colour.

There are three main categories of depressed Acne Scars or Spots that we can treat effectively with lasers.

  • Rolling scars – a wavy texture in the skin
  • Boxcar scars – appearance of large pores
  • Icepick scars – deep pits with narrow openings

Raised Acne Scars

  • Keloid – a type of raised scar that grows over and around the acne lesion often becoming quite large, thick, and rubbery.
  • Hypertrophic Scar – a type of raised scar that only grows over the acne lesion

Skin Color Changes – Red Spots

  • The presence of colored spots where an acne lesion once was, commonly appearing in shades of pink, red, or purple

Before/After Laser Treatment for Acne Scar Redness 

What Are the Causes?

Acne scars do not occur in all people who have acne. The cause of acne scarring is the result of family genetics and sometimes more likely in those individuals with sever cases of acne.

How Do I Prevent Acne Scars?

This is the most important part of avoiding acne and their scars in the first place.  Treating acne when it is more than small pimples that heal quickly will prevent long term consequences like scarring of the skin.  Dr. Crippen will commonly use a combination of medication from the pharmacy and light sources to hinder the appearance of acne lesions.  We normally see an excellent reduction in acne lesions for patients who follow our strict protocols for treating acne vulgaris.  Not everyone “grows out” of their acne either and some people will get acne for the first time in their 30s or 40s.  We treat patients of all ages and each treatment is individualized to their specific problem.

What Are the Treatments?

Watch Dr. Crippen remove an Acne Scar using laser.  This acne scar was the result of a large cyst that never completely resolved after many months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can An Adolescent Use These Treatments?

Our acne treatments are safe for adolescents, and we can treat younger patients with permission from their parents or guardians. Early treatment can be important to diminishing the effects of acne scars and other damaged skin.

Can You Prevent Future Breakouts?

Acne can breakout for many reasons, some of which are difficult to control with any method. There are treatments and lifestyle changes that may make a difference, depending on the source of your acne. We’ll be able to tell you more with a physical examination.

How Effective Is The Acne Scar Treatment?

We’ll let our clients speak for themselves: Testimonials can be found here. The before-and-after photos that you see on this page are taken from our own clinic. Not every type of acne scar can be treated easily, but we have achieved great results for our patients.

Will Laser Treatment Stop Recurrence of Acne?

Certain types of lasers can improve acne although acne is a genetic/hormonal condition that will improve usually over time. Some of the lasers that can help are the long-pulsed 1064 laser, v-beam laser, blue light and a few others.

Quickest and Most Effective Acne Treatment?

The most effective acne treatments are those that reduce inflammation. The V-Beam laser is very effective in reducing the redness associated with acne break-outs but medication is the mainstay of therapy to maintain long-lasting results.

Will There Ever Be a Really Effective Acne Treatment?

There are many effective acne treatments today. One treatment may work for one individual but not for another hence a few different approaches are sometimes needed for each patient. Usually a combination of medications is the best way to attack and eliminate acne break-outs.

What Are the Different Types of Acne?

Some different types of acne are comedonal, pustular and cystic. Comedonal acne is commonly referred to as blackheads. Pustular acne is the type of acne that forms a small white papule at the top of the lesion with a red swollen base. Cystic acne is the worst form of acne that can cause permanent scarring.

What’s the Best Back Acne Treatment?

Topical medications are usually impractical for treating back, so oral medication is the best in this situation. Commonly used medications include oral antibiotics or isotretinoin.

Are There Acne Treatments for Different Types of Acne?

Absolutely. We tailor our acne treatments depending on the type and location of the acne. For example, severe cystic acne on the face or chest/back requires isotretinoin. Mild comedonal acne on the forehead might only require a mild topical cream. Each acne treatment is unique to the patient.

If I Switch Acne Treatments, Will I Get Break Outs?

If your treatment regimen for acne is working, don’t change treatments. If it’s not working, then switching might be a good option. In the latter case you should only see improvements generally from a change in your acne treatment regimen but each case and patient is unique.

Risks and Complications of Laser Acne Treatment?

Laser therapy can be useful mostly for the redness associated with an old acne lesion, not as much for ongoing break-outs. Some complications of vascular laser therapy to remove some post-inflammatory erythema from acne includes bruising (very common), swelling and tenderness to the area for a day or two at most. More severe complications are very rare with the technology used today in the V-Beam laser.

Acne scarring on face, Hi there – I am interested in knowing what the cost of treating acne scarring may be. My son has quite a bit of scarring on his cheeks and is now on prescribed medication to reduce the acne problem but he has quite a bit of scarring to deal with.

This is a great question we get all the time. The possible treatments depend on a lot of factors, not the least of which is your sons age, current and past medications, skin colour, medical history and more. In general we perform laser treatments for acne scarring that has been present for at least a few years once the acne has calmed down and is no longer an acute issue. In order to know for sure what treatment would be best, contact us for a consultation.

Acne preventable? The girls in my family typically have horrible problems with acne, and I never want to see my daughter go through that. Is acne at all preventable with the right treatments? Can it be treated early enough that really bad breakouts never happen?

Acne certainly does run in families but that is no guarantee that each person will be affected in the same way. Once acne is becoming a problem, absolutely we can make a huge difference with medications. The key is to prevent acne scarring which will cause permanent disfiguration to the skin. It is much easier to prevent acne in the first place than to try and remove scars once they are present.

How do I keep acne scars from developing? I’ve seen this happening to my sister, and I want to avoid it.

You’re absolutely right that preventing acne in the first place is the best way to avoid acne scars in the future. Even though we can help acne scarring with laser treatments, prevention should be the first goal at any stage if possible. Best to see your local physician who deals with skin a great deal to treat any acne. Every acne pimple/breakout will cause some scarring from microscopic (invisible to the eye) to very noticeable deep depressions in the skin. For nodular or cystic acne, sometimes Accutane is recommended as a treatment/cure for some patients.

What is the Best Treatment for Ice Pick Acne Scars?

Ice Pick Acne scars are best treated using ablative lasers that remove skin tissue and encourage significant skin healing and new skin growth. A fractional CO2 laser is the gold standard treatment for this kind of problem and multiple treatments are normally required for significant long lasting results.

What is the Best Treatment for Large Pores and Minor Acne Scarring?

This depends on the case, sometimes excision of a large pore will give the best cosmetic outcome and sometimes ablative CO2 laser therapy is the best choice. The patient’s medical history, skin condition and size of pore/scar will all influence the treatment options.

What are the Side Effects from Acne Scar Laser Treatment?

If ablative lasers are used to remove skin/tissue, there will be some redness, swelling and mild discomfort following the procedure for a handful of days on average. These kinds of lasers remove skin so the body has to grow new skin to replace what we have removed and as a result there are always certain side effects that can be expected. Much less common problems of skin pigmentation issues, infection and scarring are rarely seen if the patient follows post care instructions.

What is the Fastest Acne Scar Removal for Face and Chest Areas?

Again, this depends on the case but a variety of laser options exist for these conditions. Occasionally a vascular laser (VBeam) will be used to reduce the redness in the skin while fractional CO2 lasers will be used to smoothen the skin. Sometimes injection of a steroid medication into a large, bumpy scar will be required to improve the scarring associated with cystic acne.

Is It Safe to Have Laser Treatment While Breast Feeding?

Lasers only interact with the skin and have no distant effects on the body so yes, they are, for the most part, safe while breastfeeding unless we are using local anesthetic with them. This all depends on the procedure of course and a formal assessment is required in each situation.

Can Acne Scars Be Completely Removed?

We can only improve acne scars, never completely remove them. A significant improvement can be made with different lasers but normal skin is usually not achievable with the technologies available today. We can never promise patients something that is unrealistic to achieve.

Differences Between Tradtional CO2 Laser and Fractional Laser?

The traditional method of fully ablative CO2 laser treatments is to remove a full layer of skin evenly across a given area which results in significant downtime and risks. Fractional CO2 lasers, as the name implies, only treats a fraction of the skin by producing small holes in the skin, leaving normal skin right next to it. The result is less downtime for the patient, however more treatments are needed to see the same amount of change as a traditional CO2 laser treatment but with much less risk.

Which Laser Would Work Best for Cystic and Raised Keloid Acne Scars?

A combination of vascular lasers (VBeam) and the fractional CO2 laser would work best in this situation. We would also likely inject the lesion with some steroid to reduce the size of the scar before performing any fractional laser treatments. Our fractional CO2 laser treatment is called the DermaPeel.

Microdermabrasion Vs Laser Genesis for Acne Scars?

Microdermabrasion and laser genesis will not give much of a result for acne scars. Microdermabrasion is good to remove dead skin on the surface leaving the skin feeling temporarily smoother. Laser genesis is a brand name for a laser that does not have much of an effect on acne scars either. These treatments would leave the patient with little to no downtime as well as no results.

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