A number of medical and non medical treatments are available to treat acne scars. Although a total correction of scarred tissue deformities cannot always be achieved, the primary goal is to improve the appearance. The more invasive treatments are injections, dermabrasion and lasers, which can be painful, expensive and requires recovery time.

Scar formation is a natural part of the healing process that occurs when the skin repairs wounds caused by accident, surgery or disease. Scars are formed by the over production of a naturally occurring chemical in the body called collagen. In the normal healing process, once the wound has healed, collagen stops being produced and the skin returns to normal. The time skin takes to heal will vary depending on the degree of damage, and the longer it takes to heal the greater the chance of a noticeable scar. Normal scars will develop during the first 48 hours after wound closure and can fade within 3 months, whereas abnormal scars can occur up to 18 months later.