The concern
Acne can leave two very different legacies — flat marks that fade with time, and textural scarring that needs real collagen work to soften. Which one you're looking at changes the entire treatment plan.
What's happening
Acne marks and acne scars aren't the same thing, and mixing them up leads to the wrong treatment. Marks are flat discolouration left behind after a breakout — pigmentation changes sitting on the surface, which tend to fade with time and respond well to peels or LED. Scars are structural: the skin's own repair process has left indentations or raised areas where a breakout damaged deeper tissue.
Microneedling works on the structural kind. Fine needles create a controlled, superficial injury that prompts the skin to rebuild its own collagen — gradually filling depressed scarring and refining the surface, rather than resurfacing or removing tissue outright.
The honest part: active breakouts need to be under control first, because needling over live acne can spread bacteria and cause further scarring. Most scarring also needs a structured series of sessions, not a single visit — your clinician will set a realistic count at consultation, based on scar type and depth.
The pathway
Not a single fix, but a considered order — matched to your skin at consultation.
The primary treatment
Fine needles create controlled micro-channels that trigger the skin's own collagen response, gradually softening depressed scarring and refining texture. Delivered as a series — typically four to six sessions spaced four to six weeks apart — with topical numbing applied beforehand for comfort.
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The supporting treatment
Dr Esthé is a Korean skincare range — this needle-free treatment uses fine sponge spicules to support skin renewal between microneedling sessions, or as a gentler bridge for those not ready for device needling.
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Questions
Most acne scars can be significantly improved but rarely removed entirely in a single treatment. The goal is to stimulate enough new collagen to fill depressed scars and smooth the skin's surface texture. At Eternity Laser & Aesthetics in Dural, our microneedling protocols typically achieve visible improvement over a structured series of treatments, with many clients seeing meaningful softening of shallow scarring.
Most acne scarring requires four to six microneedling sessions spaced four to six weeks apart. Shallow scars and post-inflammatory marks may respond in fewer sessions, while deeper ice pick or boxcar scars often need the full series plus maintenance treatments. Your clinician at Eternity will assess your scar type during consultation and give you a realistic treatment count before you commit.
We apply a topical numbing cream 30 minutes before the procedure, so most clients describe the sensation as mild prickling rather than pain. The treatment intensity is calibrated to your comfort level and scar depth. Post-treatment, your skin will feel warm and look flushed, similar to moderate sunburn, which typically subsides within 24 to 48 hours. Eternity provides a detailed aftercare kit to keep your skin comfortable during recovery.
Acne marks are flat discolouration left behind after a breakout — they are pigmentation changes that sit on the skin's surface. Acne scars are textural changes where the skin's structure has been damaged, creating indentations or raised areas. Marks tend to fade with time and respond well to peels and LED therapy. Scars require collagen-rebuilding treatments like microneedling. At Eternity, we assess which type you have so we can recommend the most effective pathway.
Active acne should be brought under control before aggressive scar treatment begins, because microneedling over active lesions can spread bacteria and cause further scarring. However, gentler treatments like LED therapy and HydraFacial can begin immediately — they actually help manage breakouts while preparing your skin for scar-focused treatments later. At Eternity in Dural, we often design a two-phase plan: control the acne first, then treat the scars.
The next step
The clearest way forward is a conversation about your skin.
We’ll assess it in person and tell you honestly what will, and won’t, help.
