Hello, this is Dr. Lee Seungyeop from Rodam Korean Medicine Clinic, Nowon branch, specializing in scar treatment.
Acne scars with indentations can be categorized into three types based on their shape.
Boxcar scars with clear edges, rolling scars with a wavy texture,
and lastly, ice pick scars, which I will explain today.
In this article, I will provide detailed information on what ice pick scars are, how they are classified,
and the treatment methods for ice pick scars.
What are ice pick scars?
As the name suggests, these are narrow and deep scars that look as if they were pierced by an ice pick.
They mainly occur after inflammatory skin conditions such as acne or folliculitis.
Although small in size, their most significant characteristic is that they are deeply embedded in the skin.
Ice pick scars form when inflammation damages the tissue,
and the area fails to regenerate properly, leaving a scar behind.
They typically appear on the cheeks and are a common skin issue experienced by more than 6 out of 10 people.
Ice pick scars are indentations left in areas where acne once existed,
and they often occur when inflammation is left untreated for a long time.
Because the opening is narrow and the base is deep, ice pick scars are considered
one of the most challenging types of acne scars to treat.
Why are ice pick scars difficult to treat?
Although small in size, ice pick scars extend deeply into the dermis or subcutaneous tissue.
This makes collagen regeneration difficult, and during the healing process,
it is challenging to determine how much recovery has occurred.
Therefore, treatments must be carefully tailored to the depth of each scar.
The following are some representative treatment methods for ice pick scars.
<Representative Treatment Methods for Ice Pick Scars>
- Coratherapy
: Coratherapy is an approach rooted in Korean medicine that uses fine needles to
directly stimulate the scar, promoting skin regeneration and
encouraging the growth of new tissue in the scarred area.
This method utilizes the skin’s natural healing ability to gradually improve scars. - Pico Fraxel
: This involves creating micro-holes in the skin and delivering strong laser energy deep into the skin to promote regeneration.
It helps stimulate collagen production and improves skin texture. - Dot Peel
: This method uses a chemical agent called CA to selectively stimulate the scarred area, inducing collagen synthesis.
It trims the edges of the scar and helps new skin tissue fill in the area.
It is not suitable for treating wide and deep scars. - RF Needle
: This treatment uses fine needles to deliver radiofrequency energy deep into the skin.
It stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, improving skin elasticity and aiding in scar reduction.
Among these, Rodam Korean Medicine Clinic’s Coratherapy directly addresses the structural characteristics of indented scars,
helping new tissue regenerate.
Since it does not involve inserting foreign substances, it leverages the skin’s natural regenerative ability to achieve effective treatment outcomes,
making it particularly effective for treating indented scars.
Ice pick scars cannot be completely improved with a single treatment,
but with sufficient time and repeated treatments,
you can achieve significant improvement.
At Rodam Korean Medicine Clinic, Nowon branch, we provide thorough diagnoses by experienced medical professionals
and systematic treatment systems to help you stop stressing over scars.
We hope you regain healthy and beautiful skin.
