Acne Scar Treatment in Abu Dhabi

Acne scar treatment in Abu Dhabi is one of the most technically demanding areas of aesthetic dermatology because the correct treatment depends entirely on the type and depth of scarring present. Not all acne marks are scars. Not all scars are the same type. And not all scar types respond to the same treatment. At House of Skincare on Yas Island, Dr. Khadija Al Zaabi, DOH-licensed Consultant Dermatologist with over 21 years of clinical experience, assesses each patient’s scarring pattern under magnification before recommending any treatment. The treatment plan is built around the scar morphology, not a standard protocol applied to everyone.

Acne scars form when inflammatory acne lesions damage the dermis. The extent of the damage determines the scar type. Deep cysts and nodules that are squeezed, infected, or slow to heal are the most likely to produce permanent scarring. This is why controlling active acne as quickly as possible is the first priority, before any scar treatment begins. Scar revision is only appropriate once the skin is in a stable, acne-free state. Treating scars while acne remains active produces inconsistent results and risks inducing further PIH.

Why House of Skincare for Acne Scar Treatment?

Dr. Al Zaabi classifies every patient’s scarring pattern before recommending a treatment plan. The Potenza RF microneedling device at House of Skincare delivers dual-frequency radiofrequency energy at precise depths, making it the most versatile single-device option for the range of scar types typically seen together in a single patient. She combines this with chemical peels, subcision, and polynucleotide therapy for comprehensive scar revision. The clinic holds a 4.9-star patient rating and operates under DOH licensing. Scar treatment results depend heavily on the physician’s ability to match treatment to scar type. A wrong assessment leads to sessions that do nothing, or worse, that make the situation harder to treat.

Types of Acne Scars

Acne scars are classified by their morphology. Understanding the type is essential because each requires a different treatment approach.

Ice-pick scars are narrow, deep, V-shaped channels that extend into the deep dermis or subcutaneous tissue. They look like the skin has been punctured with a sharp instrument. Ice-pick scars are the most difficult to treat with surface resurfacing alone because the scar channel extends below the depth that most lasers or needles can effectively remodel. Punch excision, where the scar is removed with a small punch biopsy tool and the wound closed or grafted, is often the most effective approach for isolated deep ice-pick scars. This is followed by surface resurfacing to blend the treated areas.

Boxcar scars are broad, box-shaped depressions with sharp, well-defined vertical edges. They sit at variable depth in the dermis. Shallow boxcar scars respond well to RF microneedling and fractional laser resurfacing. Deep boxcar scars benefit from subcision to release the fibrous tethering at their base, followed by RF microneedling to stimulate collagen remodelling in the depressed area. Multiple sessions are typically required.

Rolling scars are broad, shallow depressions with gently sloping edges and an undulating skin surface. They are caused by fibrous tethering of the dermis to the underlying tissue. Subcision, which uses a needle inserted beneath the scar to break the fibrous bands pulling the skin down, is the most appropriate treatment for rolling scars. RF microneedling and polynucleotide injections promote collagen filling of the released space. Rolling scars often show significant improvement within 2 to 3 sessions of combined subcision and RF microneedling.

Hypertrophic and keloidal scars are raised above the surrounding skin. They result from excess collagen deposition during the healing phase. These are less common in acne on the face than on the chest or back. Treatment includes intralesional corticosteroid injections to reduce collagen overproduction and flatten the raised tissue, sometimes combined with pulsed dye laser or silicone sheeting. These are managed differently from atrophic scars and require their own treatment protocol.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is frequently confused with scarring by patients. PIH presents as flat brown or red marks at the site of healed acne lesions. These are not structural changes to the skin. They resolve without treatment over 3 to 12 months, and faster with topical depigmenting agents, sun protection, and treatment such as chemical peels or carbon laser. PIH does not require RF microneedling and does not benefit from scar revision procedures. Dr. Al Zaabi distinguishes between PIH and true scarring at assessment.

Acne Scar Treatments at House of Skincare

Potenza RF Microneedling: The Potenza RF microneedling device is the primary tool for atrophic acne scar treatment at House of Skincare. It delivers bipolar radiofrequency energy into the dermis at precisely controlled depths ranging from 0.5mm to 3.5mm using insulated microneedles that protect the overlying epidermis. The RF energy creates controlled thermal injury in the dermis, stimulating fibroblasts to produce new collagen and elastin and remodelling the scar tissue. The adjustable depth allows the treatment to be targeted at the actual depth of each scar type, a significant clinical advantage over fixed-depth devices. Results build over 3 to 6 months after each session as the new collagen matures. Most patients require 3 to 6 sessions at 4 to 6 week intervals for significant improvement.

Subcision: Subcision is a minor procedure performed under topical anaesthesia using a fine hypodermic needle inserted beneath the skin at the base of depressed scars. The needle is moved in a fanning motion to break the fibrous bands tethering the scar base to the underlying tissue. Releasing this tethering allows the skin to rise to its natural level. Subcision is the first step for rolling scars and deep boxcar scars, performed before RF microneedling or filler is applied to the released space. Without subcision, surface remodelling treatments cannot correct the tethering that keeps the depression visible.

Chemical Peels: Medium-depth chemical peels using trichloroacetic acid (TCA) at concentrations of 15 to 30 percent can improve shallow atrophic scars, surface texture irregularities, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation simultaneously. TCA CROSS (chemical reconstruction of skin scars) is a targeted technique where a high-concentration TCA solution is applied precisely to the base of individual ice-pick and deep boxcar scars, stimulating collagen production within the scar channel. This can improve ice-pick scar depth over a course of monthly sessions. Dr. Al Zaabi selects the appropriate concentration and technique based on your scar type and skin tone.

Polynucleotides: PDRN/polynucleotide injections are used as an adjunct to RF microneedling in the scar revision programme. Injected into the dermis at scar sites, polynucleotides stimulate fibroblast proliferation and accelerate the collagen-filling response after RF treatment. They also improve the quality of the overlying skin between scar sites, creating a more uniform surface as the scars improve. Multiple sessions are required as part of a combined protocol.

Dermal Filler for Scars: For isolated, deep atrophic scars or post-subcision spaces, a small amount of hyaluronic acid filler placed precisely within the scar depression provides immediate improvement in depth while the longer-term collagen remodelling programme proceeds. Filler in scars is not permanent and is used as a staging tool alongside active remodelling treatments, not as a standalone solution.

Punch Excision: For deep, isolated ice-pick scars, punch excision removes the full scar channel with a small punch instrument of matched diameter. The wound can be closed directly with a fine suture, producing a flat, linear scar that heals better and can be further refined with laser or peels. This is a minor surgical procedure performed under local anaesthesia at the clinic. It is reserved for scars that do not respond adequately to RF microneedling or TCA CROSS.

How Many Sessions Are Required?

Acne scar treatment is a commitment to a multi-session programme. The number of sessions depends on the severity of the scarring, the scar types present, and how the skin responds to initial treatments. As a general guide:

Mild, superficial atrophic scarring: 3 to 4 sessions of Potenza RF microneedling.
Moderate mixed scarring (boxcar and rolling): 4 to 6 sessions of combined subcision and RF microneedling.
Severe or deep scarring: 6 to 8 sessions with a combination approach including subcision, RF, TCA CROSS, and polynucleotides.

Results continue to improve for up to 6 months after the final session as newly stimulated collagen matures. Progress photographs are taken at each session. Dr. Al Zaabi reviews and adjusts the programme at each visit.

Before Your Treatment

Active acne must be controlled before starting scar treatment. Scar revision during active inflammatory acne produces poor results and risks triggering new PIH.
Stop retinoids 5 days before any RF microneedling or peel session.
Avoid sun exposure for 2 weeks before treatment.
Arrive with a clean face, no makeup.

After Your Treatment

After Potenza RF microneedling, skin will be red and slightly swollen for 24 to 48 hours. This is a normal inflammatory response and part of the healing mechanism.
Apply SPF 50 every morning from day 2 post-treatment. UV exposure during the healing phase worsens PIH and reduces collagen remodelling quality.
Avoid retinoids and exfoliating acids for 5 days.
Avoid heat, saunas, and strenuous exercise for 48 hours.
Use gentle, hydrating skincare for the first week.

Alternative and Related Treatments

Acne Treatment: Effective acne scar revision requires active acne to be fully controlled first. If you have active inflammatory acne alongside scarring, Dr. Al Zaabi addresses the active acne with prescription treatment before beginning scar revision. See the Acne Treatment page at House of Skincare for the full range of prescription and in-clinic acne management options.

MelaDeep for Post-Inflammatory Pigmentation: Patients with a mix of atrophic scars and significant PIH benefit from a staged approach: MelaDeep mesotherapy and topical depigmenting agents address the PIH first, creating a clearer skin background on which scar improvement is more visible. RF microneedling is then used for the structural scar revision.

Profhilo: After completing a scar revision programme, Profhilo used as a maintenance treatment improves overall skin quality, hydration, and laxity in the areas treated for scarring. The tissue remodelling effect of ultra-high-concentration HA biostimulator supports the long-term maintenance of improved skin quality after active scar treatment has concluded.