Skin health guide · RDG Clinic
Acne-scar assessment and treatment in Riga
“Acne scars” are not one texture. Ice-pick, rolling, boxcar, and raised scars need different methods, so a sound plan begins with classification and realistic expectations.
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Video transcript
Hi everyone! I’m Armands Baltušs, dermatologist. Today we’re going to talk about and work on scars.
We have a patient who came in for fractional CO₂ laser scar treatment. The patient developed these scars over her lifetime. There are scars on the arm, including one after surgery.
So, what is a fractional CO₂ laser? It can be one of the more aggressive ways to remove scars, but also one of the most effective. It works on both the deep layers of the skin and the superficial layer.
Let’s put it this way: it is a bit painful, so we do apply anaesthesia beforehand so the patient won’t feel a thing, the procedure is comfortable, and the impression of lasers is a pleasant one.
What can the patient expect after the procedure? There’s a little bit of stinging and redness for the first few days. The scar-healing stages can last up to two or three weeks.
Is it necessary to repeat this fractional CO₂ laser treatment? Yes. For patients with deeper, older scars, we usually recommend two to three sessions to get the best possible results.
This procedure is available at Riga Dermatology Group Clinic.
Acne scars
Scar type determines treatment
Atrophic scars reflect tissue loss and may be narrow and deep, broad with sharper edges, or rolling with deeper tethering. Hypertrophic and keloid scars are raised from excess scar tissue. Red or brown post-acne marks are not true scars.
Active acne is controlled first because new inflammatory nodules can create new scars. Treatment depends on scar type, skin type, previous procedures, healing tendency, and acceptable downtime. One method rarely addresses mixed scarring.
Common signs
- Narrow deep ice-pick scars
- Boxcar depressions with defined edges
- Rolling texture with tethering
- Raised hypertrophic or keloid scars
When to see a dermatologist
When to see a dermatologist
- Active acne is controlled and you want a scar plan
- It is unclear whether changes are scars or pigment
- A previous procedure did not deliver the expected result
- You have keloid tendency, darker skin, or downtime constraints
Accurate diagnosis
How assessment works
The dermatologist examines direct and angled lighting, classifies scars, checks tethering, and separates texture from redness or pigment. Active acne, isotretinoin and procedure history, herpes risk, skin type, and keloid tendency are reviewed. A plan and baseline photographs precede treatment.
An individual plan
Treatment approach
The aim is gradual texture improvement rather than complete scar “erasure”. Mixed scars often need a sequence of methods.
Fractional CO₂ laser
Controlled microablation can remodel atrophic-scar collagen but requires healing time and pigment-risk management.
Scar-specific methods
Deep, tethered, or narrow scars may need subcision, focal chemical treatment, excision, or a combination.
Raised-scar treatment
Hypertrophic or keloid scars need a different approach, such as intralesional treatment rather than resurfacing alone.
Your RDG care path
How the clinic can help
Services are selected after dermatologist assessment and according to the individual findings, not from a name or photograph alone.
Doctor consultation
In person or online: a professional assessment of your health and skin with a clear plan for next steps.
About this service →Fractional CO₂ laser
An ablative laser procedure to remodel acne scars, texture, fine lines, and selected stretch marks with planned recovery.
About this service →Kenalog injections
Corticosteroid delivered directly into a selected lesion after dermatological diagnosis and individual dose selection.
About this service →Long-term control
What to expect
Improvement develops over months as collagen remodels and multiple treatments are often needed. Redness, swelling, crusting, infection, herpes reactivation, and pigment change can occur; rarely scarring worsens. Results are compared using standardised photographs after full healing.
This information does not replace medical consultation. Seek urgent medical care for sudden, severe, or rapidly progressive symptoms.
Dermatologists
Frequently asked questions
Can scars be removed completely?
Usually not. A realistic goal is meaningful gradual texture improvement while preserving safety.
Is one laser session enough?
It depends on scar type and intensity; a course or combination is often planned.
When should scars be treated?
After active acne is controlled and skin, medication, and healing risks are individually assessed.
Medical sources
Content updated: 13 October 2026
Treatment starts with an accurate diagnosis
After assessment, the dermatologist will explain the appropriate plan and costs. There is no single fixed treatment price because it depends on the diagnosis and therapy required.