Dealing with acne scars can be frustrating. You want a solution that’s both safe and effective, which is why so many people ask us, does PRP help acne scars? For many of our patients, the answer is a clear yes. Instead of foreign substances, PRP therapy uses a concentrate of your own blood to stimulate cell turnover and collagen production right where you need it. This process addresses the uneven texture at its source. We’ll walk you through exactly how our PRP treatments work so you can feel confident and informed about your options.

  • Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a blood product that comes from you. We draw your blood and then spin it in a high speed centrifuge to separate the plasma from the red blood cells. What is left are a “platelet rich plasma” that contains concentrated growth factors and healing cells.
  • “Micro-needling,’ gently pricking your skin stimulates the creation of new skin cells and regeneration of damaged cells. Your own PRP is then massaged into the skin. The goal is to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, and the creation of new skin cells.

The science – PRP treatments, safe, effective, economical for deep acne scars

In the medical publication Skin Therapy Letter, Dr. Jason Emer writes: “Several reports demonstrate improvements in traumatic scars and acne scars with PRP treatment. Increases in collagen density and dermal elastic fibers are notable benefits when using PRP in aesthetic dermatology. When PRP is used in combination with other therapies, such as laser treatments, microneedling, and hyaluronic acid fillers, further improvements in skin appearance are achieved.” (1)

A study in the journal Dermatologic therapy (2) looked at some of these combined and various treatments (similar to the treatments we use here) with PRP injections in treating twenty patients with different types of atrophic acne scars on the face.

After 3 months of treatment the researchers found:

  • 30% (6 of 20 patients) had excellent improvement,
  • 20% (4 of 20 patients) of patients had good improvement,
  • 20% (4 of 20 patients) of patients had moderate improvement, and
  • 30% (6 of 20 patients) of patients had mild improvement.

The dermatologists of this study found all types of the patient’s acne scars showed significant improvement with no significant difference between them.The also found combination techniques (needling, skin laser) was found to be “a safe and cost-effective treatment option for atrophic acne scars.”

In a study from Egypt,(3) doctors speculated that PRP may be beneficial in the treatment of atrophic acne scars by promoting collagen deposition. Simply, this is the replenishment of new collagen in the scar. To accelerate this PRP induced process, the Egyptian doctors also performed skin needling (or microneedling) a technique that uses a sterile dermaroller (or  Dermapen® see below) to puncture the skin and release growth factors. The doctors speculated that the combination of skin needling and PRP could enhance the efficacy of both modalities.

The doctors took Forty-five patients with atrophic acne scars and randomly assigned to 3 equal groups;

  • Group A received intradermal injection of PRP alone,
  • Group B received chemical reconstruction of skin scars,
  • and Group C was treated by combined skin needling and PRP. Each patient underwent 3 sessions at 2-week interval.

The 3 groups showed statistically highly significant improvement in the degree of acne scars after treatment No major adverse effects were observed in the studied groups.

Since one group of patients derived benefit from the PRP injections alone, the doctors were able to conclude that PRP is a beneficial treatment for acne scars.

This research was continued by another team of researchers who published their review in The Journal of dermatological treatment. (4)

Here the objective was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of microneedling alone versus microneedling combined with platelet rich plasma in the treatment of post acne scars..

  • The study included 35 patients with mild to severe post acne atrophic scar.
  • All the patients received four sequential treatments of skin microneedling alone on the right side of the face and skin microneedling followed by topical application of platelet rich plasma (PRP) on the left side of the face with an interval of 3 weeks.
  • Two blinded dermatologists evaluated the clinical response. Patients are queried about their satisfaction with the treatment outcomes.

RESULTS:

  • There was a significant improvement in the degree of scar severity before and after treatment on both the sides. Regarding patient’s satisfaction grades, there was a significant improvement after both treatment modalities with insignificant differences between both treatment modalities.
  • Both microneedling and microneedling in combined with PRP showed satisfactory results.

Dermapen® is an affordable treatment that can tighten and lifts skin through a fractional micro-needling device.  Unlike laser fractional treatments;  Dermapen® is safe for most everybody, including darker skin types when used with a careful post-procedure regimen that includes sunblock.

 Dermapen® treatments are  used for the following issues:

  • Minimize fine lines and wrinkles
  • Decrease pore size
  • Diminish appearance of acne scars, surgical scars and stretch marks

Dermapen® offers better, safer results than rolling micro-needling systems. There is also less pain, bruising, and recovery time. Dermapen® uses collagen induction therapy, (CIT) which stimulates your own body to increase production of collagen. This “controlled injury”  stimulates the production of new cells, which heals scars, minimizes wrinkles and diminishes stretch marks.  Ideal regimens are 4-6 treatments over a space of 2-6 months. Each treatment is done approximately 4-5 weeks apart.

What Types of Scars Can PRP Treat?

One of the great things about Platelet-Rich Plasma is its versatility. Because it works by using your body’s own growth factors to stimulate healing and cell regeneration, it can address a variety of skin texture and pigmentation issues. Acne doesn’t leave just one type of mark behind, and understanding your specific type of scarring is the first step toward finding the right solution. PRP is effective for several common types of scars, helping to smooth, rebuild, and even out your skin tone from within. Let’s look at the main categories of scars and how this treatment can help.

Atrophic (Sunken) Scars

Atrophic scars are those little indentations or “pockmarks” left behind after a breakout, often caused by a loss of tissue and collagen. If you have rolling, boxcar, or ice-pick scars, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The goal here is to rebuild the skin from the inside out. Research shows that PRP therapy is beneficial for these scars because it promotes collagen deposition. Think of it as encouraging your skin to create fresh, new collagen to fill in those sunken areas, resulting in a smoother, more even surface. This process helps replenish what was lost, effectively raising the scar floor to match the rest of your skin.

Hypertrophic and Keloid (Raised) Scars

On the opposite end of the spectrum are hypertrophic and keloid scars, which are raised and sometimes thick. These form when your body produces too much collagen during the healing process. Instead of filling a gap, the goal here is to soften and flatten the excess tissue. PRP helps manage this overproduction of collagen and can reduce the associated swelling and firmness. By helping to regulate the healing response, the treatment can soften the texture of these raised scars, making them less prominent and helping them blend more seamlessly with the surrounding skin. It’s a way of signaling to your body to balance its repair work.

Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH)

Sometimes, the most frustrating reminder of a past breakout isn’t a change in texture but a change in color. Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation, or PIH, refers to the dark spots that linger long after a pimple has healed. These spots occur when inflammation triggers an overproduction of melanin. PRP can help address this discoloration by improving blood flow and reducing underlying inflammation in the area. This enhanced circulation delivers vital nutrients and oxygen to the skin cells, supporting a healthier, more balanced complexion and helping to fade those persistent dark marks over time. It’s a key component in achieving the clear, even-toned skin we often discuss during our facial rejuvenation consultations.

Does PRP Work for Acne Scars? A Look at the Research

In September 2019, investigators published their review of PRP’s effectiveness in treating acne scarring in the medical journal Aesthetic plastic surgery. (5) Here is what they wrote: “A number of studies have investigated the role of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as an assisted therapy for atrophic acne scars. However, the results are diverse, and no up-to-date meta-analysis was found that exclusively examined atrophic acne scar treatment.”

To better understand how PRP could work, they looked at seven published research articles. In these seven studies PRP was utilized as an additive therapy. The major therapies included fractional carbon laser therapy and microneedling. The investigators concluded: “This review shows that PRP is a useful assisted therapy for atrophic acne scars, which can achieve better improvement.”

Further, a good summary can be drawn from combined research from the University of michigan and John Hopkins University. This comes from the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (June 2019).

The field of dermatology has seen numerous therapeutic innovations in the past decade, with platelet-rich plasma recently garnering significant interest in acne scarring. . . This review reveals that activated, leukocyte- and platelet-rich plasma in combination with fractional ablative laser treatment administered in 2 or 3 sequential sessions 1 month apart improves the appearance of acne scars. The evidence for the use of platelet-rich plasma with microneedling is less supportive. Because of the heterogeneity of the studies and widely variable outcome measures, comparison between platelet-rich plasma treatments and subsequent statistical analysis could not be performed. Although these studies use various subjective and objective evaluation methods, the addition of platelet-rich plasma provides improvements in acne scarring, higher patient satisfaction, and decreased postprocedure downtime.” (6)

References:

1 Emer J. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP): Current Applications in Dermatology. Skin therapy letter. 2019 Sep;24(5):1-6.
2 Ibrahim ZA, Elgarhy L. Evaluation of PSP technique including Dot Peeling, Subcision and Intradermal Injection of PRP in The Treatment of Atrophic Post‐Acne Scars. Dermatologic therapy. 2019 Aug 15:e13067.
3 Nofal E, Helmy A, Nofal A, Alakad R, Nasr M. Platelet-rich plasma versus CROSS technique with 100% trichloroacetic acid versus combined skin needling and platelet rich plasma in the treatment of atrophic acne scars: a comparative study. Dermatologic Surgery. 2014 Aug 1;40(8):864-73.
4 Ibrahim MK, Ibrahim SM, Salem AM. Skin microneedling plus platelet-rich plasma versus skin microneedling alone in the treatment of atrophic post acne scars: a split face comparative study. J Dermatolog Treat 2018; 29: 281–286.
5 Hsieh TS, Chiu WK, Yang TF, Wang HJ, Chen C. A Meta-analysis of the Evidence for Assisted Therapy with Platelet-Rich Plasma for Atrophic Acne Scars. Aesthetic plastic surgery. 2019 Jan 1:1-9.
6 Hesseler MJ, Shyam N. Platelet-rich plasma and its utility in the treatment of acne scars-A systematic review. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2019 Feb 8.

Is PRP for Acne Scars a Safe Option?

When you’re considering any new treatment for your skin, safety is naturally a top concern. One of the most reassuring aspects of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy is that it uses your body’s own resources to promote healing. The treatment involves creating a concentrate of platelets from your own blood, which is then reintroduced into your skin to stimulate cell turnover and collagen production. Because the PRP is derived from you, the risk of allergic reactions or your body rejecting the treatment is virtually eliminated. Research consistently shows that when performed by a qualified professional, PRP is a safe approach for treating atrophic acne scars, with studies noting a high degree of improvement and no major adverse effects observed in patients.

Common Side Effects and Recovery Time

After a PRP session for acne scars, it’s normal to experience some mild, temporary side effects. You might notice some redness, swelling, or slight bruising around the treatment areas, similar to what you’d expect from any procedure involving injections. These effects typically subside on their own within a few days. The recovery time is minimal, and most people can return to their daily activities right away, though you’ll want to be gentle with your skin for a bit. A 2014 study confirmed that patients showed significant improvement in their acne scars after treatment, with no major adverse effects reported among the groups studied.

Who Is a Good Candidate for PRP?

PRP therapy is a fantastic option for many people struggling with the texture and appearance of atrophic, or sunken, acne scars. If you’re looking for a treatment that harnesses your body’s natural healing abilities to create smoother, healthier-looking skin, you could be an excellent candidate. It’s particularly beneficial for those who want to avoid synthetic fillers or more aggressive laser treatments. The best way to know for sure if PRP is right for you is to have a conversation with a specialist who can assess your unique skin condition and discuss your aesthetic goals. A personalized consultation will help determine the most effective treatment plan for you.

Who Should Avoid PRP Treatment?

While PRP is safe for most individuals, it isn’t the right choice for everyone. Certain conditions can interfere with the treatment’s safety or effectiveness. For instance, you should avoid PRP if you have an active skin infection, such as cystic acne or a cold sore outbreak, in the area you want to treat. People with specific blood disorders, like platelet dysfunction syndromes or clotting issues, are also not ideal candidates. It’s crucial to be transparent about your full medical history during your consultation to ensure the procedure is safe and appropriate for you.

The PRP Treatment Process: From Prep to Post-Care

Knowing what to expect can make your treatment experience feel much more comfortable and straightforward. The PRP process for acne scars is a multi-step journey, but each stage is designed to be simple and effective. It all starts with preparing your skin for the session, moves into the treatment itself where your body’s own healing power is put to work, and finishes with a gentle aftercare routine to support your skin as it regenerates. This entire process is focused on stimulating new collagen and elastin, which are the key building blocks for smoother, firmer skin. At the Stem Cell Institute, we guide you through every step, ensuring you feel informed and confident from start to finish.

How to Prepare for Your PRP Session

A little preparation can go a long way in making your PRP treatment successful. A few days before your appointment, it’s a good idea to avoid things that can thin your blood, such as aspirin, certain anti-inflammatory drugs, and some supplements like fish oil or vitamin E, as this can help minimize bruising. You’ll also want to steer clear of alcohol and smoking for at least 24 hours before your session. On the day of your treatment, arrive with a clean, makeup-free face. Following these simple guidelines helps create the ideal conditions for your skin to respond beautifully to the therapy.

What Happens During the Treatment?

The treatment itself is a two-part process that typically takes about an hour. First, we prepare the PRP, and then we apply it to your skin to begin the rejuvenation process. The goal is to deliver those powerful growth factors directly to the scarred tissue where they can work their magic. Our team, led by Dr. Marc Darrow, ensures the procedure is performed with precision and care, making your experience as comfortable as possible.

Your Blood Draw and Preparation

The session begins with a simple blood draw, just like you’d have at a regular doctor’s visit. We only need a small amount of blood, which is then placed in a centrifuge. This machine spins the blood at a high speed to separate the platelets and plasma from the other blood components. The result is a golden, liquid concentration of platelet-rich plasma, packed with the growth factors that are essential for healing and tissue regeneration. This is the custom-made serum that will be used to treat your acne scars.

The Injection Process

Once the PRP is ready, the next step is to deliver it into your skin. This is often done using a technique called microneedling, where a device like a Dermapen creates tiny, controlled micro-injuries in the skin. These micro-channels not only stimulate your skin’s natural healing response but also allow the PRP to penetrate deeply into the dermis. The PRP is applied topically and massaged into the skin, where it gets to work rebuilding collagen and repairing the damaged tissue that causes scars.

Aftercare: Supporting Your Skin’s Healing

What you do after your treatment is just as important as the treatment itself. Your skin will be sensitive, so it’s essential to be gentle with it. For the first 24-48 hours, avoid harsh cleansers, exfoliants, and direct sun exposure. Keep your skin hydrated with a simple, gentle moisturizer, and be sure to wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily to protect the new, healing skin. Following up with your practitioner is also key, as they can monitor your progress and make sure your skin is healing as expected, ensuring you get the best possible results from your PRP therapy.

Your Treatment Timeline: Results and Expectations

Patience is key when it comes to regenerative treatments like PRP. Unlike quick fixes, PRP works with your body’s natural timeline for cell turnover and collagen production, meaning results appear gradually. The journey to smoother skin is a process, not an overnight transformation. It’s important to have realistic expectations and understand that the final outcome will unfold over several weeks and months. Each session builds upon the last, progressively improving the texture and tone of your skin. This gradual improvement ensures the results look natural and are truly your own.

How Many Sessions Will You Need?

The number of PRP sessions you’ll need depends on several factors, including the severity of your acne scars and your skin’s individual response to the treatment. Most people achieve their desired results after a series of treatments. Research suggests that a course of six to eight sessions, spaced a few weeks apart, is often effective for producing clear improvements. During your initial consultation, we can create a personalized treatment schedule tailored to your specific needs and aesthetic goals, giving you a clear roadmap for your journey to smoother skin.

When Can You Expect to See Results?

While your skin begins its healing process immediately after the first session, visible results take a little time to appear. Many patients start to notice a change in their skin’s texture and a reduction in the appearance of scars within four to six weeks of their initial treatment. This is because it takes time for your body to generate new collagen and for the skin to remodel itself. The improvements will continue to develop over the following months, with the most significant results often seen after completing your full series of treatments.

Maintaining Your Results Long-Term

Once you’ve achieved your desired results, you’ll want to maintain them. While the collagen your body produces is permanent, the natural aging process continues. To keep your skin looking smooth and fresh, periodic maintenance sessions are often recommended. Depending on your skin, a follow-up treatment once or twice a year can help preserve your results and continue to support your skin’s health. A consistent at-home skincare routine, including daily sun protection, will also play a crucial role in maintaining your beautiful new complexion long-term.

Managing Expectations for Scar Improvement

It’s important to have a realistic outlook on what PRP can achieve. While it can produce a significant improvement in the depth and texture of atrophic acne scars, it may not erase them completely. The goal is improvement, not perfection. For more severe scarring, combining PRP with other treatments can often yield even better results. Studies have found that using PRP alongside procedures like microneedling is a safe and effective approach for treating atrophic scars. We can discuss combination therapies, like our Vampire Facelift, to create a comprehensive plan that addresses your specific concerns.

Understanding the Cost of PRP for Acne Scars

Investing in your skin is a big decision, and understanding the cost is an important part of the process. The price of PRP for acne scars can vary, as it’s not a one-size-fits-all treatment. Instead, the cost reflects a personalized plan designed to give you the best possible outcome. Think of it as a customized investment in your confidence and skin health. Several elements contribute to the final price, and being aware of them can help you understand the value behind the treatment and plan accordingly for your aesthetic journey.

Factors That Influence Treatment Price

The overall cost of your PRP treatment series is influenced by a few key factors. The number of sessions you need is the primary driver; deeper or more extensive scarring will naturally require more treatments to achieve optimal results. The practitioner’s experience and the clinic’s geographic location also play a role in pricing. When you choose a reputable clinic like the Stem Cell Institute, you’re paying for a high level of expertise and care, which is crucial for ensuring both safety and effectiveness. We can provide a detailed cost breakdown during your consultation.

Combining PRP with Other Treatments

To achieve the most dramatic improvement, PRP is often combined with other aesthetic treatments. For example, pairing PRP with microneedling is a popular and effective strategy, as the microneedling creates channels for the PRP to penetrate deeper into the skin. Combining therapies can be a cost-effective approach, as it often delivers more significant results in fewer sessions. If you’re interested in a multi-faceted treatment plan, we can discuss the costs and benefits of different combinations to find a solution that fits your goals and budget. Feel free to contact us to learn more about our personalized treatment packages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the PRP treatment be painful, and what’s the recovery like? We take every step to make the treatment as comfortable as possible, often applying a topical numbing cream before we begin. Most people describe the sensation as mild and very tolerable. As for recovery, you can expect some redness and maybe a little swelling for a day or two, similar to a mild sunburn. The great part is that there’s virtually no downtime, so you can get right back to your daily routine, though you’ll want to be extra gentle with your skin and diligent with sunscreen for a few days.

Why do I need more than one PRP session for my acne scars? Think of it like going to the gym for your skin. One session kicks off the collagen-building process, but real, lasting change comes from consistency. Each treatment builds on the progress of the one before it, progressively repairing tissue and smoothing out texture from deep within the skin. This layered approach ensures we achieve the most significant and natural-looking improvement possible for your scars.

Are the results from PRP for acne scars permanent? Yes, the collagen your body produces in response to the treatment is yours to keep. The structural improvements to the scars are long-lasting. However, your skin will continue its natural aging process. To maintain that smooth texture and overall skin health, many of our patients choose to have a maintenance session once or twice a year. It’s a great way to support the results you’ve achieved and keep your skin looking its best.

How does PRP differ from treatments like fillers or lasers for acne scars? While lasers resurface the skin and fillers add temporary volume, PRP works on a cellular level to help your skin rebuild itself. Instead of using an external substance or energy source, PRP uses the growth factors from your own blood to signal your body to create new, healthy tissue and collagen. This makes it a uniquely natural approach focused on repairing the scar from the inside out, rather than just camouflaging it or resurfacing the top layer.

I have very old and deep acne scars. Can PRP still help me? Absolutely. While newer scars can be easier to address, PRP is very effective for older, more established atrophic scars. Because the treatment stimulates your body’s own powerful healing mechanisms, it can successfully remodel tissue and encourage new collagen growth even in scars that have been there for years. For deeper scars, we often recommend combining PRP with microneedling to enhance penetration and stimulate an even more robust healing response.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Body Is the Solution: PRP therapy uses a concentrate of your own blood’s growth factors to stimulate collagen production and repair scar tissue from within, which significantly reduces the risk of allergic reactions.
  • Results Unfold Over Time: This treatment works with your body’s natural healing cycle, so visible improvements appear gradually. A series of sessions is typically required to achieve the best, most lasting outcome for your skin.
  • A Versatile Tool for Skin Renewal: PRP is effective for various types of acne scars, including sunken (atrophic) and discolored marks. Combining it with treatments like microneedling can enhance its effectiveness, creating a more comprehensive approach to skin rejuvenation.

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