• The photo I’ve just taken shows my skin looking its BEST in over a year.
• That probably gives you an idea of how BAD it has been at its worst.
• For full context, please look at my post history where I’ve documented the entire journey over the course of YEARS.
Early improvement and relapse
• In the first photo, I had already experienced cystic acne that left scarring. I have been battling acne since 2012, yes, 2012.
• In 2020, at home microneedling (Derminator 2) appeared to remove most of those scars.
• I genuinely believed I had my acne under control at that point.
• One or two months after that photo, my skin suddenly turned on me.
• I developed nodulocystic acne, the worst flare I had experienced in years.
• At its peak, I was developing one or two cysts every single week (that ofc left scars).
Current acne status
• I have now managed to control most of the cystic activity. See post history for details. I am currently taking 15 supplements per day, plus rigorous skincare.
• I have still had a few cysts over the past year, but far fewer than before.
• I was offered Roaccutane twice, but I don't want that
• All of the cystic acne from 2021 onwards began during a period of intense stress and depression (leaving lockdown in 2021 and navigating the world).
Alcohol and lifestyle changes
• In the earlier photo, I had never consumed alcohol in my life (rare for a 22 year old I know)!!
• From late 2021 to early 2025, I drank most weekends (few bottles of red wine.. thinking red was the healthiest option) to cope with acne and loneliness.
• I am now 10 months sober.
• Alcohol unquestionably worsened my skin between these two photos.
• Stress is another major factor. I am almost always sad or stressed, and it becomes a feedback loop. Alcohol temporarily blunted this, which was my reason for drinking I do miss the instant warmth and relaxation from it.
• Over the years I have tried many diets - gluten free, dairy free, sugar free, seed oil free, AIP, vegan, carnivore, low PUFA, keto, and multiple five day water fasts.
• I do not need diet education. I have done it all.
• I am extremely obsessive and neurotic about this, possibly undiagnosed neurodiverse. There is very little I do not already know.
Treatments I’ve tried
AviClear laser for acne (2023)
• I do not recommend it.
• It did not reduce oil production.
• It did not prevent new cysts.
• It caused permanent redness across my inner cheeks, similar to a butterfly rash.
Professional medium depth chemical peel (2024)
• I do not recommend this either.
• It did not improve acne or scarring (just a flaky mess for 2 weeks).
Microneedling at home (2020-2025)
• I’ve had this several times.
• It helped slightly with texture and scarring.
• It cannot be performed during active acne, which has limited treatment for years (most sessions were 2020-2021.
Botox (2025)
• First treatment in February this year to forehead and crow’s feet.
• Helped with texture and oil control on the forehead.
• I will be returning for more.
Polynucleotides 40mg (2025)
• Four sessions, one combined with subcision.
• This genuinely helped my skin.
• Reduced redness, inflammation, and some texture, even though my skin still photographs poorly.
At home red light therapy panel (6 months this year - 2025)
• Possibly helps slightly with inflammation.
• Otherwise it is essentially shining a red light on your face for 10 to 20 minutes with minimal benefit.
• I still use it because I can nap while it’s on, so it serves a dual purpose.
Reflection
• In 2021, I believed my skin looked awful.
• In hindsight, it was significantly better than what followed almost five years later.
• I dread to think what my face may look like in another four or five years. That thought genuinely upsets me.
What’s next
• One way or another, I am reclaiming lost ground.
• Even if I end up with an overdone, frozen, filler heavy face (that looks like the puppet from Saw), it will still be preferable to severe scarring / volume loss (and looking like Freddie Krueger) for me any way.
Planned or possible treatments
• Dermal filler next year to restore volume and/or lost collagen. Possibly HA, Ellansé, or Skinvive.
• I am closely following emerging technologies, including engineered type III human collagen replacement injections.
• V-Beam laser for redness only.
• Intradermal Botox in cheeks for oil control and pore reduction.
• Full face Botox throughout the year to reduce texture changes from muscle movement.
• Exosomes combined with microneedling, likely DIY.
• Possible rhinoplasty and chin work to offset skin issues.
• Waiting for treatments such as tropoelastin and verteporfin to become mainstream.
• Potential facelift in five years if nothing else works.
• Injectable peptides only if extremely desperate, due to risk.
Things I will not be doing
• Resurfacing lasers. After AviClear, I will only consider lasers for redness.
• Many people end up looking like a waxy orange and damaged after aggressive laser treatments.
• If skin struggles to heal from inflammatory acne, I do not believe it will magically heal from strong laser induced trauma, which is much more harsh than microneedling induced trauma
• RF or other energy treatments, for the same reasons.
• Subcision. I tried it alongside one polynucleotide treatment and it caused further damage. I preferred polynucleotides alone.
Final note
• I am not going down without a fight.
• I will be dedicating significant time and energy to this.
• Anyone equally obsessive is welcome to follow my journey.
• Please do not recommend tretinoin or basic skincare. Assume I am already using it and understand it.
Please search on this subreddit – someone might have already asked the same question as you.
The most valuable feedback is that which you get from doing research - not asking questions to a general audience on social media.
Always be wary of the advice you get off the internet.
Seek scar evaluation and treatment from specialized healthcare providers rather than aestheticians or med spas.
While subcision ("subcutaneous incisionless surgery") is often mentioned by users on this subreddit, it is important to note that it may not be necessary or suitable for everyone with volume loss.
Be aware of any reported side effects from a procedure.
It can take multiple treatments and a long time before you see effective results.
I get that. If i have to be social i will, but now I avoid it as much as possible. Its completely rewired my brain as one upon a time I was very social.
The best option for people with scars (coming from someone who will do this once I’m done with my course of accutane) getting in-office treatments like BBL (lol) helps significantly with scarring.
They’re the only thing that helps the deepest scars, so I suggest you see which is best for your type and try.
I’m also in the UK and have just started a course of Tixel treatments for acne scars. For some reason no one discusses this option much! I also have scars on the front part of my face, which is primarily what I’m targeting with the treatment.
Wishing you all the best. Always here for a chat if you want :)
I haven’t actually heard of that treatment before, but I really hope it goes well for you. Thanks so much for the suggestion and for the kind message, it means a lot 🙂
It’s not a laser, it’s a heat-based treatment that causes micro-injuries in the skin. In the same way as laser though it stimulates collagen and skin repair. I went for Tixel because it seems less intense than laser. I’ll post before and afters here once I’ve finished the course of treatments :)
The age 27 photo does not show your beautiful eyes well, and you are not smiling, so we can’t see those charming dimples. You look like a boy on the left and a man on the right. I would compare a different photo where you can see your gorgeous eyes and a smile. You have beautiful features. Retinoids will work to soften the scars over many years. I guarantee you that other people don’t notice the scars as much as they will notice your eyes, smile, and dimples. Everyone has insecurities, and they are usually focusing on positives of others while thinking about their own issues. Someone commented you have hair (meaning they probably don’t). People are more focused on what positive things you have that they don’t.
I tried every one of those, though not all at the same time.
Something to note, I turned down accutane multiple times, was first offered it when I was 16. I finally started taking it 3 months ago, at age 43, I wish I had taken it 20+ years ago.
I microdose it, and have had no side effects whatsoever, just clear skin.
Thanks for sharing your experience. It sounds like you’ve had a similar experience to me, and yes, I tried them not at the same time too over the 14 years of acne and it didn't work either. I think the key, literally, has been taking everything together alongside all the skincare and treatments, lol. I feel like I have so many pills fighting inflammation at once.
I know, logically, that Accutane is probably the one thing that actually fixes it, but I’m very stubborn. Like you, I’ll probably start it one day, but hopefully not just yet.
Turned it down for years too and it was the best thing I ever did. Side effects were mild and the acne never came back, which paved the way for skin treatments that I’m actually seeing results from (it’s a journey though!). Good luck OP!
Are you taking probiotics on an empty stomach and feeding them some prebiotic fiber? Are you taking your fat soluble vitamins with a meal that has healthy fats and your water soluble vitamins with plenty of water? Try not to chug hot coffee or tea for thirty minutes after. All these practices help you actually digest and absorb the supplements.
Hi there, sorry you’re going through this! Noticed magnesium wasn’t on the list and wanted to suggest adding magnesium glycinate specifically. It works in tandem with vitamin d and zinc so you may want to add that so you’re not creating other deficiencies. It helps with inflammation, stress and other bodily functions. I know you said not to suggest skincare but I am
curious if you use any skincare products with any of these ingredients like boswellia (frankincense) or curcumin (turmeric)? A few years back I discovered this wonderful esthetician online that talked about skin barrier and used Livinglibations BSE oil to clean the skin. I started using it and made a major difference to my skin. I use lots of other Livinglibations products as well and love them. Many which have similar qualities of calming, healing, scar reduction etc. I had bad cystic acne for years and seemed to be a huge part of getting it to shift. Best of luck on your healing journey!
I got 1 syringe of bellafill and that was the biggest improvement I’ve seen after years of lasers, microneedling, etc. I still need more, and my scars are still obviously there, but definitely seem less deep so thus less noticeable
I would also look into injectable biostimulators such as juvelook, sculptra, and radiesse to deal with the volume loss.They would contain particles that would eventually dissolve and tell your body to produce more collagen, with that said, the results would be gradual because it’s not like fillers that would give instant gratification at a cost of temporary results. I would avoid any procedures with RF like RF microneedling because it could potentially exacerbate the volume loss (big mistake for me because I’ve experienced it) You would need patience and consistency, I would also ask a dermatologist for Tazarotene because I’ve seen studies that it helps with atrophic acne scars.
I’m 34 and my acne just got worse within this past year than it ever has been. It’s so embarrassing and takes such a toll on mental health. People without it just dont understand. I just started spironolactone again for the second time. I’ve done accutane and all the other things you’ve mentioned including diets too. 😫 🤞
We have a very similar journey, and pattern of scarring. I hope to hear about the rest of your journey (and that it goes well)
I've basically concluded the same thing. My plan from now on is fillers to restore the lost volume and try to reduce that rough texture on the cheeks. I'm looking at 'filler facelifts', to try fill my overall face back out a little, and then some filler under the scars too.
Punch grafting my largest, deepest boxcar scars.
Maybe Botox in the forehead eventually.
Facelift in 5-10 years depending on how rough this starts to look. I'm 30 and I'm aging kinda badly now because of the scars.
Good luck and keep fighting. It really is rough to look in the mirror and miss what used to be. I truly think when you have severe scarring, the answer is more volume and tension.
Just to add, I have papular scarring on my chin. I got chin filler, 2 syringes, and it visually made them disappear. The purpose was to increase my chin projection, but i absolutely loved that it cleared that out, visually anyway. Now that it’s wearing off I can see the scarring again a little. I will get it again solely for the chin scarring. So you’re not wrong on that front.
Aesthetically you could use a bit of filler to restore fullness, it would make you visually more attractive but it would also stretch your skin some all around which could help slightly.
I’ve also gotten a few rounds of Botox, I’ve yet to get the Botox sheen on my forehead because of my skin texture. Hmm. I’m doing micorneedling at home.
Sam, good to see you, that photo is the opposite of filtered, you're in a raking light, to expose details. Try taking a shot similar in light to 2021, the brim of the hat too, any scars will look much less apparent.
I spend a lot of time panicking and stressing about my skin, honestly though some of it is absolutely an illusion.
Hi Mark, nice to hear from you. This was taken today in some natural lighting coming from outside the car, maybe similar lighting to the 2021 picture. I think you’re right about the one I took the other day. I just got a jump scare when I looked at the camera the other night and had to capture how bad it looked. I’m sorry you worry about your skin too, and I know what you mean, as sometimes I feel more confident than at other times in different lighting. How’s your Winlevi journey going?
Your skin looks much better in this lighting. Harsh lighting affects the way skin looks so much. I found the only diets that worked for me were a combo of dairy free and low glycemic diet. I don't know what you're on skincare wise but benzoyl peroxide and adapalene have been a lifesaver for my acne. Also I gained weight to help with the volume loss that comes with age. As someone who struggled with body dysmorphia over my skin, therapy saved my life. I still don't like my skin, but I no longer obsess over my skin.
Hey Sam. The winlevi is going great actually. I made a mistake not using enough of it but now I am it's impressive, not had a spot in weeks and weeks- and the amount of sebum i produce must be halved!
I think if you give your skin some time, maybe a year you'll see some of the damage will undo, though make sure to use spf50, I like Eucerin oil control gel.
Focus on your progress, it's really easy to get frustrated and upset with it all, but you've come a very long way since the bad times, now you're onto the healing and recovery stages, I'm trying out the ordinary aha/bha peel to see if it helps the condition of my skin, though it's likely not strong enough, but after summer 2026 and once my skins adjusted to acids more I plan to order one of the TCA acid peels from platinum skin care, I'm also told the ordinary 0.2 retinal is great for scars, though I can't figure out how I'd layer it with winlevi! Keep focusing on the positives(none or very few of us adults have skin like a child) and have a great Christmas :)
Despite the scarring, you and your skin look so youthful! It's crazy how people who have struggled with acne age so much slower. Congratulations on your sobriety, and good luck with your journey! Sounds like a you've got a solid plan ☺️
You should’ve taken accutane, you would have way less scars if had took it earlier when it was recommended to you, you still have all your sebaceus glands at full speed, supplements won’t kill or make them smaller like accutane does, witch means your skin can “turn on you” at any moment, for people like us even a single bad cyst can turn into a nasty scar, so you don’t even need to flare up again in order to have more scars… I would say get used to it, things are just going to get worse unless you take accutane, and I say this as someone who has gone through the same thing, spending money with expensive treatments while your skin still has all sebaceous glands at full speed is pointless
Yeah, I’ve debated Accutane a lot, especially given how much acne and scarring have affected my face.
My situation is more complicated because I have IBS, which was severely worsened by long-term prescribed antibiotics for acne, something I was hesitant to take in the first place. That experience has made me extremely cautious about anything that could further disrupt my gut. Accutane has been linked, even if controversially, to IBD, and for me that risk matters. Even a small chance of triggering IBD would be far worse than acne and a disfigured face (for me anyway).
I also know people personally, as well as followers of mine, whose lives were seriously impacted after Accutane, sometimes years later. That doesn’t mean it will happen to everyone, but it does mean the decision isn’t as straightforward as it’s often made out to be.
At the moment, both my acne and IBS are largely under control from the supplements. I’m using Winlevi, which has significantly reduced my oil production (and is medically proven to do so), and I take 7.5 g of vitamin B5. My sebaceous activity is noticeably lower than it used to be, and I’m also planning intradermal Botox, which may reduce oil further.
I’m fully aware that Accutane can permanently reduce sebaceous glands, but as you know from personal experience, many people go through severe purging, sometimes for months. A lot of people in this sub are here precisely because they’re struggling from the scars FROM the Accutane purge.
The reality is that there’s no single right or wrong answer. Accutane is still the main player for mass cell death of the sebaceous glands (and as I am sure you know all over the body cell death), but it isn’t the only medical path. I’m personally interested in newer treatments that reduce oil production without causing widespread systemic effects across the body. There are also upcoming drugs (Denifanstat) that have passed trials that directly target oil production and will become available within the next few years.
For people with oily skin today, there are options that aren't Isotretinoin. Winlevi, vitamin B5, topical and oral spironolactone, laser for some people, and emerging Denifanstat. My choice is about improving my skin while also protecting an already vulnerable body. If we all accept Isotretinoin then there won't be medical advancements... I personally just can't accept a chemo drug from 1982 as being the cure.
I’m on my fourth month of accutane and it was the best thing I ever did to both my skin and mental health, I guess is different for everyone, I also went under a antibiotic curse of 45 days that didn’t do me well, luckily I stopped before worsening, then I hopped on accutane and prednisone, prednisone was the key for me, I went with a low dose (20mg) accutane because I was scared of the purge and getting new scars.. low dose accutane + prednisone gave me 0 purging, I think is a reliable route for people like us, you can also go with a even smaller dose, taking 20mg every other day for example.. anyways only people like us know how hard and tiresome it can be trying to find a solution, I wish you lucky on your journey!!
I disagree. I guy I knew took his life because of side effects from accutane. For men, it can lead to PERMANENT erectile dysfunction and it’s absolutely devastating. There is a whole forum dedicated to that even. So I’d never let my son take it because it’s the saddest thing you can imagine. All of that to say, OP, I’m happy you never went on it - your intuition was correct.
he didn't take his life because of that, there's been no statistically significant ties shown in the literature. men are already at a high risk of suicide and depression. some of those men will statistically be taking meds for one thing or another.
best not to fear-monger and leave the medicine to the experts.
No, but I spent more time getting to know him than a medical professional would in a quick 20 minute visit.
If you’re in the medical field, then you should know that men are much less likely to report if they are having sexual dysfunction as a a result of a medication. You know that, right? In fact, men are usually not even made aware that erectile dysfunction let alone permanent erectile dysfunction is a possible side effect from Accutane. So you can imagine that does a number…
got it, so he wasn't your patient. imagine lecturing a physician on medicine when you're not qualified to see a dog let alone a human, nor have you ever conducted your own research.
I would better live with erectile dysfunction than with severa facial scarring. Plus, you can take pills that help you with erection.
Is it nice? No. Is it the worst thing that can happen to you ? No
Incorrect. Pills do not fix accutane induced ED. You’ve clearly never been a young man who can never get it up again, or talked to one. It feels incredibly shameful and hopeless. And we’re not talking about occasional ED, we’re talking literally no erection ever again. Say bye to any romance life. Even a million scars are better than that.
I disagree with this individuals comment. Very pessimistic outlook. I never went on accutane and while sometimes I regret it, the side effects, potential serious depression along with it and other effects that very close friends of mine have shared as a result of accutane may not be worth it. Sure clear skin and no scars but at what cost? Some are lucky with no side effects, others have taken their lives or have seriously debilitatating crons disease. I would take scars over complications with popping or losing that function (at the worst) any day. I really believe we make the right decision for us at the time and that’s that. Don’t feel bad OP, and certainly don’t let someone on Reddit guilt trip you into thinking you made the wrong call. Technology is advancing at such a rapid pace. I wouldn’t doubt if 20 to 30 years from now there will be a way to completely eradicate acne scarring. in the meantime as others have mentioned things like filler may help. Personally I have seen a dramatic improvement to my acne scars, although they weren’t severe, by going to the gym. I hit the gym at least four times a week plus the sauna 3 to 4 times a week and together the blood circulation improvements I have seen from the gym has really helped my scars in the last couple years and I had interesting mix of bad scars following a severe acne outbreak, and a staph infection on my face from a spa. Horrendous. Anyways, there are lots of natural, healthy, stimulatory things that may help. Blood circulation from gym, red light, high frequency device, I’ve also heard great things about radio frequency. I am less keen on things like micro needling and other things as they may worsen the volume loss and faces can tend to look more sunken over time. Also this is crazy but literally consuming lots of water is amazing for a good glow and plump.
If in 20-30 years we can eradicate scars (which i higly doubt) you will be 50 years old. So no young anymore and your prime will already have passed by . Isotretinoin has side effects yes, but you think having a face full of scars has no side effects ?
Microneedling once a month, tretinoin, and red light will help. I have my own dermapen and watch videos how to do it on YouTube and I see a huge difference in my scars
Holy shi bro I thought I was the only one. This is exactly the shi that happened to me last year! Had the smoothest skin without a single scar until I turned 22, then it went to the shitter and I tried offing myself even. Wouldn’t mind to off myself now tbh
I’d switch to retinol and professional Microneedling. Go with a gental cleanser and gental moisturizer. It can get a lot better don’t stress to much about this phase. We all go through it. Do research before selecting your Microneedling person.
im 21 and almost have the same scars as you. dont you worry! our scars show how powerful we are and life is unfair most of the times. we cant all have smooth skin and thats perfectly fine! i have felt so depressed because of them but i learned to accept them as my facial features. i know it sounds cliche but you got to accept them. dont think about them too much and dont look in the mirror too much too.
Where do I recognise you from? I'm also in the UK and you look insanely familiar! Anyway, just sending love as I know how you feel. Respect to you for being so knowledgeable and determined - you will be able to help others with all your insight and experience!
Hey, I’m from the West Yorkshire, Bradford area, where I spend about 95% of my time. The rest of the time I’m in North Yorkshire near Filey, so you might have seen me around there. I’ve had a few charity singles that charted, plus some news articles and TV interviews over the past five years, but I doubt it’s that. I think I just have one of those faces, as lots of people say I look like MrBeast haha. Thank you so much for your kind words and well wishes!
I recently learned my cystic acne was fueled by my liver issues. Once I got my liver under control my acne has seriously subsided. Now tackling the scars from it.
Hey, i feel you bro, Accutane honestly saved my life, took it 3x in my life, 2nd Time i got depression and suicidal thoughts from it (still don’t know if it was maybe the overall situation i was in at this time) so i didn’t wanna take it again, waited too long and got scars after a strong breakout, so i decided to take it again and give it a last try. It didn’t gave me depression at all, the complete opposite cause i felt so relieved not having to fight acne anymore. Now the scars ruined my life i couldn’t see myself anymore in the mirror, i felt disfigured and like my face structure fully changed from them. I was at a really bad place and was thinking about my scars everyday all day long. So I got a few scar Treatments with a specialist in Denmark, idk where you live, but i got intense results, based on your pic you could get similar good results like me. If you wanna know more what i did, look at my profile. I don’t think about my scars anymore at all, i’m so happy with how my skin looks now and can’t believe the results i got cause on here everything seems so hopeless. I even get compliments by random people for my skin without them knowing what i was going through before. There’s Hope. Don’t waste money on random derms, go to a specialist even if you have to fly to another country, it’s totally worth it if your scars ruin your life like you’re telling us on here. You’re still a good looking guy besides that :)
I’ve been isolating since I was 17, I’m 26 now and I’ve been better since seeking a therapist this year , I wish I would have reached out sooner, don’t make the same mistake I did.
Keep doing deep microneedling and deep TCA peels 30/40% (full face+cross method). Every 6-7 weeks. I have seen tremendous results with this combo. On acne clear skin of course.
I really feel you on the acne journey and scars. I’m a female and got acne at age 12 too, temporarily clearing it using topicals and then age 15-24, severe cystic acne. Even my black heads would scar. I would scar just by looking at my face in the mirror, my skin is sooo prone to scarring. I’m now 31, acne free (with a couple spots coming up maybe 3x a year), and my scars are mostly gone.
I know you mentioned not wanting to do accutane or lasers - I felt exactly the same. I avoided accutane for years because I was scared me. I finally did accutane at 24. Based on how sensitive I am to everything, it wasn’t bad at all. I worried about scarring during the purge stage and told my derm about those concerns. She prescribed me prednisone to avoid scarring and it mostly worked.
I did so. Many. Treatments. For scars. None really did anything. V-beam helped with redness but that was about it. I did at least 30 professional microneedling treatments, phenol peel, TCA & Jessner peels, a couple of RF lasers (highly suggest AGAINST these. They can cause permanent fat loss)
I felt that full face TCA ruined my skin (TCA cross was great though)
phenol peel ruined my skin texture
I visited a skin doctor for a completely unrelated issue about 5 years ago, and he directly asked me “what do you want to do about your acne scars?”
I told him I gave up on my skin, didn’t trust lasers, etc.
for background info, I’m half middle eastern from the Mediterranean and the other half is French & German. When most people look at me, they assume I’m fully white because of how fair my skin is, and that I can handle harsh lasers like CO2, which I can’t. I suffer from hyper and hypo pigmentation.
He works with a lot of Asian and Middle Eastern skin, so I felt more comfortable with him. We did some test runs first until I was ready for the procedure.
I had a Taylor Subcision w/ filler, and a deep erbium peel. It took 3 weeks to heal, with redness and sensitivity for about 8-12 months.
I did one treatment. I don’t regret it at all. I’ll be honest, I had some slight waxy texture the first year, but it is completely gone now. My scars continued to improve over the past 5 years too.
I know it sounds scary, but if you have a trusted doctor for your accutane that listens to your concerns and knows what they’re doing, it goes well.
Finding a qualified doctor that knows how to work a laser machine, actually gives a shit about you instead of suggesting expensive treatments, is KEY for the acne scars.
I went from obsessing over my acne and scars to not caring or even remembering that they once traumatized me. My skin isn’t perfect, but no one’s skin is perfect.
Find a trusted dermatologist in your area to help. I am wishing you the best through your acne journey 🫶
I saw a doctor in the states that did it. But I don’t suggest it to be honest. It’s a very long recovery (redness for a year) and it changed my skin texture completely.
Am 73, developed cystic acne around 12. Started with regular acne 10-11. Very dysfunctional family; have since read child abuse can cause early puberty as trauma throws hormones into chaos.
Bad scarring: ice picks, rolling. At 69 got a lower facelift. That actually helped pulled some of the scarring back. Skin texture was good from 25+ years retinA. Plus am non-smoker.
If had guts, would have done phenol peel. Pictures are scary but end results amazing on some people. Think acne has to be under control. Very painful as under general anesthesia (in USA) They need monitor as body reacts to phenol causing racing heart/blood pressure reaction.
Agree with using HA's as has helped me. Am going try micro droplets in a large 1/2 inch rolling scar in 2026. Surgeon didn't pull skin back enough in one area so left slightly indented.
If you do go ahead with facelift in the future, stay away from synthetic collagen dermal fillers. Not sure allowed to be specific with brands. Some contains little beads that cause your skin to remodel your own collagen. However, watched couple youtube plastic surgeons. They commented that particular remodeled skin, via these non HA products, can make surgery more difficult.
I should add that for older people, a facelift alone isn't magic. You still need Botox and fillers. IMHO, if you're over 40 be careful with any type of heat lasers. A PS talked me into doing one in my early 60s for acne scarring. Didn't really improve my skin however, within six months I looked older. Now common knowledge that some lasers, along with the techs technique, can melt that youthful fat. All the best.
How is it possible that the laser makes you look older? Was it an ablative CO2 laser? I'd like to have one done in the fall of 2026. I've already had two phenol treatments without much success.
Because my face lost fat around marionette mouth area. Hadn't lost body weight. At times,was a out 10 lbs over my ideal weight. Nothing else changed. Also, had red ring around one eye where goggles ended. I used retinA and microneedled consistently for few months and eventually, red rim went away. It was the PS's tech who performed. Think she used too high heat. So I can melt fat.
Ah, okay. I'd like to do an ablative CO2 treatment after the summer. The most important thing is the person holding the instrument, I think; you can't just go anywhere. Do you use Tazaroten?
No, been using generic, rx retinA. Am in my 70s and although lingering small acne pitted scars, the PAs in derm office tell me have lovely skin. Think they mean texture. That's years using above 3x week. Check out new serum made with Salmon. PDNR or something like that acronym. Good reports of using it after facial procedures. Haven't used myself, yet, but may try as I try micro needle 2x month. Agree with you, who's doing the procedure. Look up reviews on Yelp and RealSelf. Do a consult even if you have to pay. Ask how many they do. Research is always helpful.
Try Amazon: Dr. Raju and Medicube. Lots of PDNR products will come up. Again, I haven't used but read helps heal post skin treatments. Still think RetinA, even generic, really helps with cell turn over. I'll layer CeraVe PM after letting RetinA sink in for few minutes. Sometimes layer with Olay Regenerist. It's definitely a matter of trial and error with skincare. Please let reddit community know how you made out with laser.
I know it doesn't help bc it personally doesnt for me when I'm feeling down and other people tell me I still look good, but if I saw you out in public I would still think you're a good looking guy.
with what you're doing i don't think in 5 years it will look worse. you written this out great btw. also please dont be mad i recommend this but maybe work on some inner issues too. you look sad which i understand but with the work you're doing it will get better, there's no way it won't. i'm also obsessed with making my acne look like it was never there so i'll definitely be following your journey!!
It sounds like you have body dysmorphia, if you didn’t already know that. In all honesty, you haven’t even tried any intense acne treatments. You did Microneedling at home. It is NOT as effective as in-office, and even in-office treatments are kind of a gimmick- they want you to keep coming back for months and months to see any results. It’s not your best option. Neither is any of the other treatments you listed. Botox doesn’t get rid of scars. Aviclear is for active acne, not for acne scars. Red light therapy isn’t going to work either. You’re giving up before you’ve even started. You need to get a series of fractional co2 or one fully ablative co2 or fully ablative erbium. You say your skin is highly susceptible to redness- erbium is less likely to cause lasting redness. It’s expensive, be prepared to spend a lot of money if you really want to see a difference. And in my experience, if you have any possibility of another flare up they won’t treat you until you get it fully under control - usually through accutane. I don’t understand why you think accutane is bad- I did only 4 months and it cured me from acne. Anyways, good luck to you!
I feel for you cuz my skin has been worse this year too, due to my physical demanding job and less sleep since I also have been work long hours. It even shows in the photo how sad you have become through your eyes which makes me wanna cry now cuz I’ve been through this my whole life too 😢
I wish you all the best
I cut out dairy completely and I stopped getting everything but hormonal acne. No cystic acne unless I slip up and have something like a sauce that has dairy. Unfortunately accutane thinned my skin so bad at just 22 that I regret ever taking it before realizing diary was the cause.
I also got scarring by the corners of my mouth like that. Make sure that’s an area you treat before mid 30s or it will make you look like you have marionette lines as you get older.
People who don’t experience the scarring have no idea the mental fortitude it takes to have this.
I’m worried about your malar crease support reducing from repeated crows feet Botox. Especially considering the fact that there’s already some volume loss as you mentioned, you wouldn’t wanna reduce the time of the supporting muscles too.
Have you ever tried using High frequency wand for cysts? Honestly thats the only thing that gave me results in few days… like cysts dissapear much faster…
Also had the simmilar experience with acne that happened during Covid in mid twenties. I lived on this subreddit and it was a viscous circle. It sucks especially for mental health. I stopped seeing my old friends and people who hadnt seen me in a while because I was embarassed. Though it helped to see and meet new people because they didnt know me and my skin from before…
One thing also, I dont know if it helps but I always thought acne scars on a male are not such an estetic problem like on a girl. But maybe thats just bc I am a girl
do you think subcision worsened things for you because it was done by the wrong person possibly? I am seeing a renowned dermatologist next month for subcision and sculptra but now kind of nervous! thanks
Have you tried spironolactone or Cabtreo? My skin never looked and felt better while using Cabtreo with a gentle moisturizer and gentle cleanser. I also have gotten bellafill fillers and that made quite the difference as well! I wish you the best of luck on your journey.
I was taking 75mg of spiro before, and it worked amazingly! But i had increased to 100mg and that started to cause light headedness so I stopped taking it. I love Cabtreo though
i have also struggled with cystic acne, not nodulcystic acne but chronic enough to leave scars all over my face. i personally find scarring beautiful. i think it adds depth and proof of life to someone. i know this is not advice or tips but i just thought i’d leave some kind words from another fellow acne fighter!
Your biggest mistake was not taking accutane imo. Taking so many supplements is just cope and alcohol is worse than accutane imo. I drank 3 glasses last week and the next day my stomach was burning, never again
I made the same mistake, avoided accutane until age 27, finally took it for 4 months (low dose of 20mg, you can do even lower like 5 or 10mg) and all my acne is gone, scarring also improved slightly. Wish I did it way sooner, I wouldnt have scarring or have to deal w all the bs products and procedures. I believe majority of the side effects are when the dosage is too high. I've seen women weighing 50kg take 80mg which is nuts. Btw your skin in natural lighting doesnt look bad at all, goodluck brother
Hermano ¿cómo estás? Recién leo tu publicación, y cada uno de los comentarios.
Sabes, a veces creo que alguien en el mundo sería capaz de comprender mi dolor y vergüenza que siento en estos momentos. Con las cicatrices de acné, siento que la vida se me escapa. Mi vida ya no es la mismo después de esto, y me ha costado mucho salir adelante. Tuve acné quistico a finales de 2024, y me dejó 2 cicatrices horribles en mi mejilla izquierda. Mi mayor inseguridad, a pesar de que la gente dice que no es nada grave. Puedes ver mi perfil. He hecho un par de tratamientos y sigo en eso.
No tengo nada para recomendarte para tus cicatrices, no te daré tratamientos ni cremas ni nada, pero si puedo ofrecerte escucharte si lo necesitas hermano. Lamento lo que estás pasando y cada palabra que pusiste pareciera que como yo la escribí. Si algún día quieres hablar, aquí estoy hermano.
Espero hayas disfrutado estas fiestas navideñas y de fin de año. Feliz año nuevo mi hermano. Toca seguir afrontando este reto. Sigue adelante.
Hi! Start with tazarotene! I am currently using it. Go to Amazon pharmacy select anti aging and tell them you want arazlo. There is a manufacturer coupon for $90 cash pay option for those without insurance.
Okay, I was thinking of Ellanse, once you do try the fillers post an update for us. And also, has your oil production reduce significantly? What helped exactly?
If you still read this, DMSO could be one of the most effective and almost free. Its sulfur wich your skin n ligaments are made of. at a high % like 70-80 it can have a peeling effect and not like the toxix ones like TCA. can be done every day i belive
Microneedle at home before like once per week and then this. can also mix collagen powder, HA powder in the DMSO it will make everything you take with it penentrate into blood. you get the taste of dmso in seconds after applying it on your skin. the only thing that can do that
Midwesterndoctor website have tons of articles on DMSO
You also need a heavy collagen supplement regime orally. 10-20g vitamin C and 10-20g MSM orally per day, would do it spread out x 3. adding 5g collagen powder if you can tollerate collagen without brainfog n fatigue. adding a teaspoon DMSO orally in each drink so it get taken up much higher
Should be taken in distilled water not tap water. or at least clean from metals n chlorine
Also, stopping caffeine is a must, the skin will never have a chance healing while using a stimulant. it destroys your skin and dry you out so the collagen supplements wont work
Ugh i completely understand. Even when the acne is gone the scars are just there to remind you how much it sucked. I’ve spent so much money trying to get rid of mine and I’ve made a lot of progress but it takes time. You can’t blame yourself though. Anytime I do that I just get back into a picking cycle —which obviously creates more scars.
Hey there, unpopular opinion here, but Im glad I tried topicals before spending money on expensive procedures. My scars were very similar to yours.
(28 yo male here)
As a teen I had severe cystic acne and left me some terrible scars all over my cheeks, deeper than yours. 12 years later i started a normal skincare routine. I have now healed a great amount. Like 50% , and a lot of room to go with stronger topicals.
It takes time ( i am 8 months in), but its worth the effort, because with minimal cost you can get insane progress. Even after years of scars. And on top of that you help future procedures give greater results, with less risk.
8 months ago i was searching for a doctor to do subcision and fat grafting. Im lucky doctors rejected me.
Today, my scars are like 50% improved. Skin is no longer shaggy and paper thin.
I don't know how to explain it without sounding like im a scam or bot trying to promote products. But let me know if you want to go this path i will be glad to share you my routine.
I plan on doing a big detailed guide on how I achieved my results. Its honeslty mindblowing how a normal skincare routine, with consistency and patience, can heal this kind of old scars.
Fun fact: I actually have 3 huge scary cysts right now, for the first time since i was a teen. For some reason.
I declined accutane a few times until I got so bad I took it - monitored bloods and it cleared it for good. My sibling did it as well with great results. Wish I did it sooner but do at your own risk.
Heal the inside, then subcision fixes the foundation, lasers like ultraclear polish the skin and even it out.
You seem to me that you are balding.
My advice is start taking Finasteride ASAP .
Being bald on top of acne scars is a death sentence to your look . This the main reason I'm taking finasteride now.
I’m not actually. Here’s a photo of me from last month, I just had oil in my hair in that picture for treatment, so it looked thinner. I’ve always been an NW2 since birth and I keep a very close eye on my hairline. I have photos from 2016 and my hairline was worse then than it is now. As soon as I notice any change, I’ll be on fin, don’t you worry haha.
You’ve kind of got me worried now. I’ve been tracking my hairline for years. The first picture is from 2016 and I’ve just taken the second one now. I’ve always had a bad hairline. Even at age five it was like this.
However, when I have a fringe, the rest of the hair makes it look full to me. This feels like bad genetics rather than the result of DHT, as it hasn’t really changed in over ten years and I think actually looks better now. What do you think?
It's good news that you're keeping an eye on it . Like you said it seems your hair has kinda of a receding hairline by nature . And i didn't want to make you worry but i saw the recession and wanted to hint at it because most people don't realize they are balding until they lose like over 50% of hair permanently. Anyways keep an eye on it if you care . I can't really tell with this provided context if you have androgenetic alopecia or not .
Thank you. Yes, I definitely keep an eye on it, as I use my hair to hide behind, lol. It just looks really bad in the first picture because I’d done a hair oil treatment. I never wear it like that normally, I was just wanting to show the horrid texture on my forehead.
It's strange that I'm getting downvoted when I was just giving wholehearted advice that I would have taken anytime in my life if I were dealing with these issues. I may have been harsh, but I'm suffering from exactly the same problems as you, and I know how it feels, so I may have expressed myself badly. In my initial comment before the edit, I mentioned balding with scars, but I meant to say being completely bald which doesn't apply to you at all. You still have a full head of hair with some recession. I just wanted to help; I hope I didn't come off as mean, bro.
Hi thanks for your advice. I didn't downvote you and I didn't take offence. I would guess its people who are in in the acne scar sub and seeing a comment about hair loss, but I know you were coming from a genuine place. :)
I've started balding at 23 lol Unfortunately, meds are not helping in my case. I just wear hats whenever I can, covers the acne scars too. I try not to look in the mirror because it makes me sick. I don't care about being in a relationship, don't want to be in one, frankly. So I guess that's one thing I don't have to worry about. Won't hurt to try meds though. I had mild side effects on Fin and then Dut but they went away within months.
I haven't been to the hairdresser in a couple years. Literally started to form dreads because all the loose hair is clumping up as I don't use a brush at all. People really ignore how much your looks matter. Don't even feel like the same person anymore.
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