Hello, this is Bellevue Clinic. Many people worry about the unsightly marks left behind after acne has passed. Among them, many tend to seek out powerful Fraxel laser treatment without distinguishing between red acne marks and indented acne scars.

However, red acne marks and deeply indented scars are entirely separate areas with different causes and courses from a skin-physiology perspective.

If an unsuitable treatment is applied to your skin condition, not only may it fail to produce improvement, but it can also damage the skin barrier for a long time and cause more serious secondary side effects. Caution is therefore necessary. Today, we will take a look at this issue.

How to Distinguish Acne Marks from Acne Scars,

and When Fraxel Is or Isn’t Recommended

1. Red Acne Marks vs. Acne Scars: What Is the Difference?

▶ Red marks left after acne are...

A phenomenon in which capillaries in the dermis dilate or newly formed blood vessels proliferate during the inflammatory response, making them appear red through the epidermis.

▶ Indented acne scars are...

A condition in which the collagen and elastic-fiber structures in the dermis are completely damaged by severe inflammation, causing the epidermis to become physically uneven.

The terminology itself may not be the most important thing, but it is still necessary to remember the distinction between acne marks and acne scars. Ignoring the different physiological characteristics of each symptom and strongly applying an ablative Fraxel laser to red acne marks simply because they are both acne-related traces can be considered very dangerous.

Category	Red Acne Marks	Acne Scars
Cause	Dilation of dermal capillaries and proliferation of newly formed blood vessels	Skin sinking and indentation caused by destruction of the dermal collagen structure
Recommended treatment	Vascular laser, radiofrequency, and barrier-restoration care	Scar subcision, collagen production induction, and Fraxel
Precautions	Risk of secondary hyperpigmentation with powerful ablative Fraxel treatment	Improvement is limited with simple soothing care alone

2. Why Fraxel Should Not Be Used on Red Acne Marks

Fraxel laser treatment works by creating tiny thermal micro-injuries on the skin’s surface to induce collagen regeneration in the dermis. Applying this powerful stimulation to red-marked areas where blood vessels are already dilated and the skin is sensitive may cause the capillaries to dilate further and the skin barrier to break down. In other words, it is like fanning the flames of a fire.

Fraxel treatment may make the redness worse and, in serious cases, may result in post-laser hyperpigmentation, causing the marks to become darker.

Because red acne marks are caused by a vascular response rather than destruction of the skin’s structure itself, the proper treatment approach is to gradually manage them with a vascular laser such as Excel V, which selectively targets blood vessels, along with radiofrequency to improve the dermal environment and barrier-restoration care. Radiofrequency helps reduce redness indirectly by suppressing abnormal proliferation of newly formed blood vessels around the vessels and alleviating inflammation.

3. A Pre-Treatment Diagnosis Tailored to Your Skin Type Is Truly Important!!!

“Acne marks can take many different forms. Therefore, before treatment, it is essential to accurately determine whether the patient’s skin condition involves structural indentation caused by dermal damage or a pigmentary response caused by dilation of veins and capillaries.”

For indented acne scars, Fraxel—which can cut the fibrous bands pulling the skin downward or induce collagen production—may be appropriate.

For red marks, vascular lasers that reduce the thermal response of blood vessels, together with soothing care, should be applied to help the skin quickly regain its original condition. That is today’s conclusion.

In many cases, it is difficult to distinguish by sight alone whether a mark is a red acne mark or the result of deep dermal damage. Therefore, at Bellevue Clinic, we check the distribution of blood vessels and scar depth through a detailed Mark-Vu skin analysis before recommending customized treatment with minimal error.

The success of acne-mark and acne-scar care depends on the precision of matching treatments without error by assessing the condition of the dermal layer and the state of the blood vessels from multiple perspectives. At Bellevue Clinic near Gangnam Station, where the boundary between red marks and indented scars is clearly distinguished and treatment is performed according to the target depth of each area, restore your natural skin texture and achieve a cleaner appearance without concerns about unnecessary irritation.

※ All treatments may cause side effects such as swelling, bruising, or erythema depending on the individual, so a thorough consultation with a physician is necessary. This article was written directly by medical staff to provide medical information.

For office workers who find it difficult to make time on weekdays because of their busy daily lives, Bellevue Clinic near Gangnam Station provides regular care on Sundays and public holidays to make weekend appointments more convenient. However, please note that the clinic is closed every Wednesday for its regular day off when arranging your schedule. Even in August, the most tiring season of the year, take care of clear and healthy skin. Thank you~!

“Specialized in Skin Diagnosis”

Bellevue Clinic

With the Mark-Vu skin diagnostic examination, you can check various skin concerns at once—including skin texture, pigmentation, pores, wrinkles, skin tone, dark circles, radiance, redness, melanin, sebum, and acne-causing bacteria—that are difficult to identify with the naked eye.

Bellevue Clinic scientifically analyzes the skin to determine the treatments needed and strives to provide the most effective and helpful treatments for each patient through kind and detailed consultations.

👉 Bellevue Clinic Appointments and Website/SNS

💎Bellevue Clinic💎

• Use of genuine products in the prescribed quantities
• Experienced medical staff with many years of treatment experience
• Treatment available on Sundays and public holidays
• Customized treatment after Mark-Vu skin analysis

🌸Botox · Fillers · Thread lifting · Lifting · Obesity treatment 🌸Scars · Pores · Various types of pigmentation · Acne · Hair removal 🌸Contour injections · CoreSculpt · Noble Shape HPL · V-Olet injections 🌸Diet medication prescribed after an InBody assessment 🌸Hair-loss medication and Viagra prescriptions

📱Treatment inquiries and appointments

02-533-1200

<Visit Information & Directions>