How to get rid of craters in your face

Acne scars are stubborn, and no single treatment is best for everyone. One or a combination of the following approaches might improve the appearance of your skin, depending on your scar type, your skin type and the severity of the scarring.

  • Home skin care. Using sunscreen can help limit the contrast between unscarred skin and a scar. Some medicated creams, such as those containing azelaic acid or hydroxyl acids, might help too.
  • Soft tissue fillers. Injecting collagen, fat or other substances under the skin can plump the skin over indented scars. The goal is to make the scars less noticeable. Results are temporary, so repeat treatments are needed to retain the effect. This method has little risk of changes in skin color.
  • Steroid injection. Injecting steroids into some types of raised scars can improve the appearance of your skin.
  • Laser resurfacing. This approach is increasingly popular and is often used on scars that were once treated with dermabrasion. This technique has an increased risk of side effects for people with darker skin or a history of keloids.
  • Other energy-based procedures. Pulsed light sources and radiofrequency devices help make scars less noticeable without damaging the outer layer of skin. Results are subtle, and you might need repeat treatments.
  • Dermabrasion. This procedure is usually reserved for more severe scarring. Your doctor removes the top layer of skin with a rapidly rotating brush or other device. Surface scars may be completely removed, and deeper acne scars may appear less noticeable. Potential severe side effects include scarring and changes in skin color.
  • Chemical peel. Your doctor applies a chemical solution to the scar tissue to remove the top layer of skin and minimize the appearance of deeper scars. You can repeat mild and medium peels to maintain results. You can have only one deep peel. Potential side effects include changes in skin color, especially with deep peels used on dark skin.
  • Skin needling. Your doctor rolls a needle-studded device over the skin to stimulate collagen formation in the underlying tissue. It's a safe, simple and possibly effective technique for acne scarring. It has minimal risk of discoloring the skin. Results are subtle, and you may need repeat treatments.
  • Surgery. Using a minor procedure called punch excision, your doctor cuts out individual acne scars and repairs the wound with stitches or a skin graft. With a technique called subcision, your doctor inserts needles under the skin to loosen fibers below a scar.
  • OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox). Sometimes the skin around acne scars puckers. Injecting Botox relaxes the surrounding skin, which may improve the appearance of an acne scar. Results are temporary, so repeat treatments are needed to retain the effect.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

Oct. 25, 2022

  1. AskMayoExpert. Soft tissue fillers and other injectables (adult). Mayo Clinic; 2019.
  2. AskMayoExpert. Laser resurfacing (adult). Mayo Clinic; 2020.
  3. Avram MR, et al., eds. Acne scarring. In: Procedural Dermatology. McGraw Hill; 2015.
  4. Henry M. Cosmetic concerns among ethnic men. Dermatologic Clinics. 2018; doi:10.1016/j.det.2017.09.002.
  5. Maymone M, et al. Common skin disorders in pediatric skin of color. Journal of Pediatric Health Care. 2019; doi:10.1016/j.pedhc.2019.04.019.
  6. Chemical peels: FAQS. American Academy of Dermatology. https://www.aad.org/cosmetic/younger-looking/chemical-peels-faqs. Accessed Sept. 28, 2020.
  7. Saedi N, et al. Management of acne scars. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Sept. 29, 2020.
  8. Gibson LE (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Oct. 1, 2020.

See more Expert Answers

See also

  1. Acne
  2. Acne mistakes
  3. Can zinc supplements help treat hidradenitis suppurativa?
  4. Hidradenitis suppurativa wound care
  5. Chemical peel
  6. Clinical trials for hidradenitis suppurativa
  7. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
  8. Coping with the stress of hidradenitis suppurativa
  9. Creating a hidradenitis suppurativa care team
  10. Cushing syndrome
  11. Dermabrasion
  12. Don't blame pizza, fries or dirt for acne
  13. Hidradenitis suppurativa
  14. Hidradenitis suppurativa and biologics: Get the facts
  15. Hidradenitis suppurativa and diet: What's recommended?
  16. Hidradenitis suppurativa and sleep: How to get more zzz's
  17. Hidradenitis suppurativa: Tips for weight-loss success
  18. Hidradenitis suppurativa: What is it?
  19. Hidradenitis suppurativa: When does it appear?
  20. Hidradenitis suppurativa: Where can I find support?
  21. Hirsutism
  22. Laser resurfacing
  23. Living better with hidradenitis suppurativa
  24. Managing hidradenitis suppurativa: Early treatment is crucial
  25. Hidradenitis suppurativa-related health risks
  26. Natural acne treatment: What's most effective?
  27. Nonprescription acne treatment: Which products work best?
  28. Pituitary tumors
  29. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
  30. Precocious puberty
  31. Pregnancy acne
  32. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
  33. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
  34. Reducing the discomfort of hidradenitis suppurativa: Self-care tips
  35. Staying active with hidradenitis suppurativa
  36. Surgery for hidradenitis suppurativa
  37. Treat acne-prone skin with care
  38. Treating hidradenitis suppurativa: Explore your options
  39. Treating hidradenitis suppurativa with antibiotics and hormones
  40. What are the signs and symptoms of hidradenitis suppurativa?

Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.

Advertising & Sponsorship

  • Policy
  • Opportunities
  • Ad Choices

.

Can face craters be fixed?

Boxcar scars can develop as a result of acne, or sometimes, chickenpox. Numerous treatments are available to reduce their appearance, such as dermarolling, microdermabrasion, and surgery. Boxcar scars are also known as craters or pockmarks.

Do face craters go away?

While acne scars won't go away entirely on their own, a number of treatments can improve their appearance. This includes in-office dermatological procedures, such as resurfacing with lasers, or microdermabrasion, fillers, microneedling, skin tightening, and surgery.

How do you remove craters from your face?

In many cases, combining treatments is best for reducing the appearance of boxcar scars..
Microdermabrasion. Microdermabrasion is a superficial procedure that removes the very top layer of your skin. ... .
Dermabrasion. ... .
Fillers. ... .
Chemical peels. ... .
Laser therapy. ... .
Microneedling..

How do you treat holes in your face?

Here's what dermatologists recommend..
Use only non-comedogenic skin care products and makeup. The word “non-comedogenic” means the product won't clog your pores. ... .
Cleanse your face twice a day. ... .
Use retinol. ... .
Treat acne. ... .
Protect your face with sunscreen every day. ... .
Exfoliate. ... .
Be gentle with your skin. ... .
Treat sagging skin..