Laser Treatment for Acne Scars: Which Laser, How Many Sessions, What It Costs

Laser treatment can make depressed acne scars noticeably smoother by removing or heating damaged skin so the body builds new collagen as it heals. The right laser depends on how deep your scars are, your skin tone and how much downtime you can take: gentle non-ablative lasers need a series with little downtime, while ablative lasers such as erbium do more in one session with one to two weeks of recovery. Lasers improve scars rather than erase them, and they work best on rolling and boxcar scars.

This guide compares the lasers we use for acne scars, how many sessions each needs, what recovery looks like, which scars lasers cannot fix, and what laser acne scar treatment costs in Carlsbad.

How lasers treat acne scars

Most acne scars are depressed (atrophic): the skin sank where inflammation destroyed collagen. Lasers work in two ways:

• Ablative lasers such as erbium and CO2 remove thin layers of skin. The skin heals smoother, and the heat triggers new collagen. They give the biggest change per session, with the most downtime.
• Non-ablative lasers heat the skin under the surface without removing it. They build collagen gradually over a series, with little downtime.
• Fractional lasers, of either kind, treat tiny columns of skin and leave the skin between them intact, so it heals faster than treating the whole surface.

Which laser for which scar?

Laser	Best for	Sessions and downtime
MOXI (non-ablative fractional)	Mild texture, shallow scars and brown marks; all skin tones	Series of 3, about 4 weeks apart; a day or two of redness
HALO (hybrid fractional)	Mild to moderate scars, texture, pores and sun damage	1 to 2 sessions; back to work in 1 to 2 days, redness up to 1 to 2 weeks
Erbium (ablative)	Deeper boxcar and rolling scars and advanced sun damage	Usually 1 session; 10 to 15 days of social downtime, pinkness for 1 to 2 months

What lasers cannot fix on their own

• Ice pick scarsToo narrow and deep for lasers alone; they usually need a targeted technique such as punch excision. Ask at your consultation.
• Tethered rolling scarsBands under the skin pull it down. Subcision releases them first, then a laser or RF microneedling smooths the surface.
• Red and brown marksThese are not true scars and fade with time, sunscreen and gentle treatments. BBL HERO helps redness, and peels or MOXI help brown marks.
• Raised scars and keloidsNeed steroid injections, silicone or other care first; see intralesional injections.

Most people have a mix of scar types, so the best results usually come from combining treatments. Our guide on how to get rid of acne scars matches each scar type to its treatment, and the depressed acne scars guide goes deeper.

Laser vs RF microneedling for acne scars

Many acne scar plans use both: Morpheus8 for depth and a laser for the surface. Read is HALO worth it? and HALO recovery for more on HALO.

Laser treatment on darker skin

Medium and darker skin tones can have laser treatment for acne scars, but heat raises the risk of temporary dark patches as the skin heals. Gentle non-ablative lasers such as MOXI, conservative settings, preparing the skin with a pigment-lowering cream and strict sun protection all lower that risk. Stronger ablative lasers need extra care. See our guide to Fitzpatrick skin types.

Before and after your treatment

• Get acne under control first. Scar treatment works best once breakouts are managed, and new acne makes new scars. Tell your provider about any acne medicines you have used in the last two years, including isotretinoin (Accutane).
• Tell us if you get cold sores. An antiviral before resurfacing can prevent a flare.
• Avoid tanning and strong sun for a few weeks before and after.
• After treatment, keep the skin moisturized, do not pick at flaking skin, and use SPF 30+ every day once healed.

Laser acne scar treatment cost

VIP members pay $1,428 for HALO and $3,400 for erbium. MOXI is priced by area and number of sessions at your consultation, and new clients save 15% on MOXI packages. Financing is available.

Laser acne scar treatment in Carlsbad

At our dermatology-led studio in South Carlsbad, we look at your scar types, skin tone and downtime, then build a plan that may combine lasers, Morpheus8 and subcision. See HALO laser in Carlsbad, acne treatment, or book a consultation.