Acne scars, also known as pockmarks, can be a source of concern for many patients. There have been few treatments to erase these scars, but it seems as though Botox, which is commonly used by plastic surgeons to reduce wrinkles or curb excessive sweating, may prove useful to those with acne-related blemishes, according to MSN.

So how does it work? Researchers claim that Botox can be used in combination with dermal fillers to stop a pockmark from growing larger and to smooth out the scarred skin.

The appearance of the scar is reduced when Botox is injected into an area where muscle contractions pull on the acne scar. The Botox eases the tension and relaxes the area so that there is limited stress on the scar tissue and less visibility. However, Botox does not fill the scar and thus, a filler is needed for that. Only certain types of acne scars may benefit from this combination.

Some surgeons already use Botox to prevent excess oil and sebum from developing in skin pores, so further research of the benefits of Botox to acne treatment came naturally to researchers.

According to the Physicians Coalition for Injectable Safety, Botox treatments typically last from three to six months. There is also a wide variety of temporary dermal fillers that can be used to fill in acne scars available on the market.