Bellafill for Cystic Acne: Does It Work?

Acne affects 40-50 million people and, in many cases, it leaves tell-tale pitted scars on the skin’s surface. These scars can create emotional and psychological impacts on both men and women that can last a lifetime. Only until recently, when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a non-resorbable dermal filler known as Bellafill for the treatment of acne scarring, people have been suffering with acne scars in silence. But can Bellafill help cystic acne scars? This is the question we set out to answer. Read on to discover how this dermal injectable might be the answer to your prayers.

Can Bellafill Help Cystic Acne Scarring?

Bellafill has been used since 2006 to treat facial wrinkles and fine lines. However, now it has also been approved to treat cystic acne scarring. Approval of Bellafill by the FDA took 12 months of extensive clinical trials that involved 250 patients with moderate to severe acne scarring on the cheeks. The results of the research trials showed that Bellafill successfully smoothed and offered a noticeable lift to pitted areas of the skin. It created a smoother overall appearance and dramatically reduced the severity of the cystic acne scarring.

How Bellafill Works

Bellafill (formerly known as ArteFill) is a dermal injectable. It is composed of tiny polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) microspheres that are barely discernable to the naked eye. The PMMA works by mimicking the body’s own natural production of collagen. It creates a structure beneath the skin’s surface that the body uses as a platform to build more collagen.The structure created by the PMMA in Bellafill is not absorbed by the body, unlike other dermal fillers which must be frequently reapplied to maintain their results. Instead, the structure of the PMMA remains to support the skin’s new collagen. This creates younger, smoother skin with less scarring.