Treatments / Acne & Acne Scar Care
Acne and Acne Scars — Treated in the Right Order
Active acne is controlled first, then scars are treated. Doing it the other way round creates new marks.
Doctor-led
every treatment
4 clinics
South India
4.6★
Google rating
Honest
advice first
What is acne & acne scar care?
Acne and acne scarring are treated in sequence: active breakouts are settled first, then scarring is addressed. At Dolce Estetica the tools are medical chemical peels, microneedling and fractional CO2 laser, including spot-by-spot treatment for individual deep scars. Scar treatment produces meaningful improvement in texture and shadow rather than complete erasure, and needs a course spaced several weeks apart rather than a single session.
This is for you if…
- ✓Active acne that has not settled with over-the-counter products
- ✓Marks and dark patches left after spots have healed
- ✓Pitted or dented scars — boxcar, rolling or icepick
- ✓Adult or jawline-pattern acne appearing after the teenage years
- ✓Body acne on the back or chest
We assess first
- •Scar treatment while acne is still active — new scars form on inflamed skin, so acne is controlled first
- •Anyone pregnant or breastfeeding, for several of these treatments
- •Active skin infection, cold sores or broken skin in the area
- •Anyone with a personal or family history of keloid scarring, without discussing it first
- •Skin with a fresh tan, where resurfacing raises the risk of pigmentation
Your consultation screens all of this — honestly.
How it works
1
Assessment
A doctor examines your skin in good light, identifies whether the problem is active acne, post-acne marks, pitted scarring or a mix, and looks for triggers that need managing first.
2
Control the acne
Active breakouts are settled before any resurfacing begins. Medical chemical peels are commonly used at this stage, with medical treatment prescribed where needed.
3
Treat the scarring
Depending on scar type, microneedling or fractional CO2 laser. Individual deep scars can be treated spot by spot rather than resurfacing the whole face.
4
Protect the result
Strict sun protection during healing, because pigmentation after resurfacing is the main risk on Indian skin. A home care routine is given at the same visit.
What results to expect — honestly
Improvement rather than erasure. Realistically, a course softens texture and shadow so scars become far less noticeable in normal light. Sessions are spaced several weeks apart and collagen continues remodelling for months after the last one, so the final result is judged well after treatment ends — not immediately. Deep icepick scars respond least to resurfacing alone. Complete restoration to pre-acne skin is not an outcome any clinic can promise.
What decides your cost
We do not publish rates, because a figure quoted before a doctor has seen you is guesswork. Here is what actually moves the number — and you get the full, itemised quote at your consultation, before anything begins.
Whether we are treating acne, marks or scars
Three different problems, three different plans
Which scar types you have
Spot treatment costs far less than full-face resurfacing
Area treated
A small area is a fraction of a full face
Length of the course
Confirmed after assessment, quoted as one figure
We quote openly and in full — at your consultation, once a doctor has seen what you actually need. We do not publish rates, because a number without an assessment behind it is guesswork, and every quote we give is itemised before anything begins. Ask us on WhatsApp or at your visit and you will get the complete figure with nothing added later. EMI options are available on courses.
Your questions, answered
How much does acne scar treatment cost?
It depends on which scar types you have, how large an area needs treating, and how many sessions your course runs to. Treating a few individual deep scars costs far less than resurfacing a full face. We quote the complete figure at consultation after examining your skin in proper light — ask us on WhatsApp and we will explain what your case is likely to involve.
Should I treat active acne before acne scars?
Yes. Active acne is controlled first. Resurfacing inflamed skin risks creating new scars, and skin with ongoing breakouts responds less predictably. This sequencing is the single most common reason scar treatment underperforms elsewhere.
Is CO2 laser safe on Indian skin?
It is used on Indian skin with conservative settings. The main risk is post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation — temporary darkening during healing — which is managed by preparing the skin beforehand, choosing careful settings and strict sun avoidance afterwards.
What is the difference between acne marks and acne scars?
Marks are flat discolouration left after a spot heals and usually fade over months, often responding to peels. Scars are changes in the skin's surface — pits, dents or raised tissue — that do not fade on their own and need resurfacing or another procedure.
How long is the downtime after CO2 laser?
Expect redness and a sandpaper-like texture for several days, with the exact recovery depending on the settings used and the area treated. Your doctor will tell you what to expect for your specific plan and give you an aftercare routine before you leave.
Can acne scars be removed completely?
No. Treatment produces improvement, not erasure. A realistic goal is meaningful softening so scars are far less noticeable in normal light. Any promise of complete removal is not achievable.
Available at all Dolce Estetica clinics
Edapally, Kochi · Cherthala · Calicut · Mangalore
Related treatments
This page is for information only and is not medical advice. Individual results vary. All treatments follow consultation with a qualified practitioner.