EVERY SCAR TREATMENT I'VE HAD & MY BRUTAL HONESTY
I've tried many different treatments for my acne scars. Some were worth it, some weren't, and one hurt so much I've officially decided I’m done with invasive treatments.
This is everything I've done, what each treatment involves, what recovery looked like for me, and whether I'd book it again.
A quick note before we start: this is my personal experience, not medical advice. Everyone's skin and scars are different, so talk to MANY dermatologists and/or qualified practitioners about what suits you before making a decision.
Microneedling
What it is: A device covered in tiny, fine needles makes thousands of micro-punctures in your skin. Your skin responds by producing new collagen as it heals, which can gradually smooth out texture.
What to expect: Numbing cream goes on first (not always, some practitioners believe it better to go without it so 90% of my microneedling treatments up to 2.5mm have been done without numbing cream), Depending on depth, the treatment feels anywhere between a scratchy vibration and straight out painful that you need a stress ball. Afterwards your face looks and feels sunburnt for a day or 3, and you might get flaking. It's usually done as a series of sessions spaced about a month apart.
My experience: It's good for shallow scars, uneven texture and leftover post-acne marks. It's not enough on its own for ice pick or deep boxcar scars. I have done up to 8 sessions and would say that if you want to help deep scarring, this method will be a waste of your money.
Would I do it again? Not for deep scars but yes for overall rejuventation.
TCA CROSS + CO2 laser
What it is: TCA CROSS uses a high-strength acid (trichloroacetic acid, usually 70 to 90%) dabbed precisely into each individual scar with a tiny skewer stick/paint brush. The idea is to trigger collagen from the bottom of the scar so it slowly fills in and becomes shallower. CO2 laser is a resurfacing laser that removes tiny columns of skin so fresh, smoother skin grows back in its place. I’ve tried 70% on its own, 3 sessions and saw almost 0 improvement to my scars, but when combined with CO2 laser, I saw that my scars softened, so will be talking about this combination instead of TCA on its own.
What to expect: With TCA, each scar turns white (called frosting) within seconds, then scabs over. With CO2, you're numbed first, but it's still intense. For me, recovery meant about 2 weeks of scabbing, followed by months of hyperpigmentation. If you have a deeper skin tone (type 3 to 4 and above), there's also a risk of melasma, so strict sun protection matters. You might even need to do PICO laser for your melasma!
My experience: 70% TCA alone did little for me, even after 3 sessions. Pairing 90% TCA with CO2 laser is where I finally saw a difference. Your scars can look wider and more obvious at first (can feel so alarming), which could be a good sign they're lifting, but it does look worse in the short term. I’m at a point where some of my scars have softened, and some scars have ‘joined’ due to the TCA, causing them to look worse.
Recovery is no joke. This was one of the most painful treatments I've ever done.
Would I do more sessions? No. One year is enough for me. It hurts too much, lol.
Pico laser
What it is: A laser that fires extremely short pulses of energy to break up pigment in the skin, so your body can clear it away. It targets dark spots and uneven tone more than the structure of the skin.
What to expect: It feels like quick, hot snaps against the skin, and it's over fast. Downtime is minimal compared to CO2. I had some redness afterwards, but nothing close to the scabbing stage of the other laser. It usually takes a few sessions to see the full effect.
My experience: It did wonders for my tone and pigmentation, especially after the other laser treatments left me with dark marks. My skin looked noticeably healthier overall. It won't touch scar depth though.
Would I do it again? Yes for dark spots, no for indented scars.
Rejuran S
What it is: An injectable skin treatment made from polynucleotides (purified DNA fragments from salmon). It's designed to support skin repair and improve hydration and overall skin quality. It isn't a filler, so it doesn't add volume.
What to expect: After numbing cream, it's injected in lots of small points across the face, and the injections can sting. You're left with small raised bumps where each injection went in, which settle over a day or two, and some bruising is possible. It's usually done as a course of sessions a few weeks apart.
My experience: It's wonderful treatment I've tried for hydration and brightness. It won't change deep scars, but when your skin is glowing, the scars look better by default.
Would I do it again? No because its too expensive for the pain and results I got. I'll stick to skincare for the glow.
What I've learned
Scar healing is its own journey, separate from healing active acne. It takes patience, a mix of treatments and realistic expectations.
I'll never have my pre-acne skin, and I've made peace with that. After all these treatments I think my scars have improved by like 40% with some parts looking worse. I feel like it’s mostly exhausting and sometimes quite defeating (i say sometimes because i push myself to be positive) especially since I was made to expect more, and given empty promises from some of the ‘best’ doctors in Australia. It’s a sad reality for me, but i’ve accepted it so hopefully this blog and my videos helps anyone reading this. Good luck on your journey and I hope everything works for you, because I know how difficult is it.
Best of luck,
Your girl, Liz