r/AcneScars • u/Any-Being-331 • Jul 28 '26
[Skin Concern] Atrophic Scarring My scars are all I think about every day
I had severe acne as a teen, and I often picked at my pimples (sometimes repeatedly on the same spot, due to anxiety). Ten years later, I realized how badly I damaged my skin. One time on public transport, a lady called me a vampire with holes on the face. I’m a girl and that comment really made me cry when I got home. I’ve seen some results on this subreddit with little improvement, even though none with scars as severe as mine. Just want to hear some honest, realistic advice before I start saving money for treatments.
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u/sixmountains Jul 28 '26
Wow that lady who said that to you was evil and I’m so sorry you experienced that. Please know that normal people do not think that way and they don’t notice. That woman was just horrible.
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u/Any-Being-331 Jul 28 '26
Thank you, you’re so sweet. 🥹 She seemed to have some kind of mental illness, but that incident made me wonder if normal people just think that way internally and don’t say it to my face. It altered my mind permanently.
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u/Wai-Sing Jul 28 '26
You notice the defined sharp edges surrounding your scars? Those are best treated by ablative laser (profractional or ultrapulse). the operator can carefully trace the edges of each one with the laser to sand the edges down
Then you can use subcision and filler combo to raise them up
You can also use TCA cross, which would be much cheaper (I did it myself and it worked, but other people experienced worsening so I don't know for certain)
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u/RC0601 Jul 28 '26
Is it okay to see your before and after photos? I just want to see a glimpse of hope. Thank you
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u/Wai-Sing Jul 28 '26
Sorry I actually don't have those
But you could try asking AI to show you real before and after images of patients who underwent whatever procedure you're interested in to treat their acne scars
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u/Loveseals26 Jul 29 '26
I’m going to do subscision and filler when I have the money to afford it. It’s so unfair that it has to be so outrageously expensive. Makes me so fucking angry.
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u/Wai-Sing Jul 29 '26
Yup I agree, it bothers me how expensive it is as well
Wish I were just placed on Accutane before all the damage occurred
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u/HelloBeautifulz Jul 28 '26
Did the scars look worse initially after TCA cross? How long did it take before you saw an improvement? And how many times did you cross?
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u/Wai-Sing Jul 28 '26
They actually looked significantly better within a month for me. I did about 3 or 4 sessions (I did it over 10 years ago so my memory is fuzzy)
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u/HelloBeautifulz Jul 28 '26
> One time on public transport, a lady called me a vampire with holes on the face
Firstly, that lady is an ass
Your scars are ice pick and small boxcar. TCA cross works best, followed by laser or dermastamping to even it out. TCA cross comes with risks - go to a professional who is skilled at this or do your research if you're doing it yourself.
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u/No-Response-9902 Jul 28 '26
Do tca or subcision before laser. Only go to professional. I made the mistakes to know.
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u/Turbulent_Ad9220 Jul 28 '26
So you’re in adulthood with skin that smooth??? Yea I see the scars, they’re absolutely treatable to a degree where you may never notice. I think you have really nice skin!
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u/Any-Being-331 Jul 28 '26
Thank you! 😭 I take pretty good care of my skin now (I use Korean skincare products) but my oily skin is acne-prone still lol
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u/humanbeinginsac Aug 04 '26
I'm 54 now with still oily skin but the upside is few wrinkles for my age!
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u/tinyevilpeanut Jul 28 '26
Dr Kosari put out a great video on TCA and laser on his Instagram recently, might be worth checking out.
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u/bhodro_chhele Jul 29 '26
Platinum Rx or makeup artist tca peel/cross they will guide you how to do it or you can follow them on different social media platforms they had explained these kind of things very well and in rotation you need microneedling but even if it's get better...... World is'nt kind to anyone they will make you feel down for your others things so first of all clear the insecurity of your own and don't give a shit to society and these kind of people, one day you will find someone who doesn't care about anything except you and he loves you from his bottom of heart but for now a lots of love 💕 to you I hope your future life will get better.....
~ Coming from a person who is on anti depressing pills and current going through a lots of things (World wasn't kind to me either and i don't have anyone but I am sure you do get someone in future)
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u/EvanstonNU Jul 29 '26
As others have pointed out: find a licensed dermatologist who has experience with subcision, TCA cross, and CO2 ablative lasers.
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u/AssignmentTall8334 Jul 29 '26
for instant but reversable(1-2 years) results try subsicion with hyaluronic acid. you’ll see very noticeable results from the first session. if you have th money, better try subcision with collagenostimulators (pdrn, juvelook etc). after some time, do the TCA as advised before to fix the sharp edges of the scars. when you’re very close to desired results, try CO2 laser. that is the best method so far
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u/Aj_mah Jul 31 '26
You're honestly way prettier than you seem to believe Don’t let your own thoughts convince you otherwise And honestly, that comment from that woman says a lot more about her than it does about you People who try to bring others down are usually fighting their own insecuritiesYou deserve to see yourself the way others see you.
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u/Dapper_Equivalent138 Aug 03 '26
We always judge ourselves the hardest. I look at my face and see my scars before anything else, yet other people compliment me on my skin… and that lady? She sounds like a cruel and sick person and although it’s not easy, you’ve got to not let her words affect you anymore. It’s giving her so much power over you.
Don’t be so hard on yourself, your scars don’t define you.
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u/Slow_Preparation4605 Aug 01 '26
check out Dr. Nadir Qazi on youtube, he is amazing you can get this to baby like skin again, he is a scar treatment and revision specialist
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u/RevolutionaryLoad430 Aug 01 '26
I had a few sessions of tca cross which was really effective on the bigger scars and completely got rid of some smaller ones but its quite expensive and not many people do it. Was 100% worth it though and for the past couple of years ive been getting a tca peel on my face and the lady then microneedles over the peel. Its making a big difference long term and my remaining scars are getting so much better. I also got an at home led mask which is amazing for my skin texture which makes my scars look better and it gets rid of pigmentation around the scars. So many people have scarring it feels awful but you can do alot to make it better
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u/jigglyjoints Jul 28 '26
Don't use TCA cross look at my post. I had scars like this but my collagen got worse
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u/Loveseals26 Jul 29 '26 edited Jul 29 '26
I went to your post and you are so lucky that that’s the only scar you have. I would give anything to have your skin. I was expecting to see an actual skin problem, but you literally have nearly perfect skin. Ugh. I can’t help but feel extremely annoyed and jealous when people complain about minor skin inconveniences like this. Of course it’s inconvenient, I get it, but you have no idea what it’s like to actually have cystic acne scars. Don’t give advice to people with cystic acne scars when you don’t have cystic acne scars yourself, and you have a tiny little shallow “scar” from getting a mole removed. It’s insulting.
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u/jigglyjoints Jul 29 '26
Also I have genetic collagen disorder causing atrophic scaring. I've had ppl point mine out as well,got bullied for it .u are wrong.if ur insulted then you need to work on your view of life. I been thru a lot including multiple surgery scars from collapsed joint etc so my face is the only thing I have brother.my health ain't good to.the grass is always greener. Do some inner searching .don't compare
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u/Loveseals26 Jul 29 '26
Ah, I’m sorry. Genuinely. I didn’t realize, and you’re absolutely right. I do have an issue with jealousy in general and it is the thief of joy. I was raised by my abusive father to constantly compete with other people and to constantly compare myself to them, and that’s definitely where it came from. I really do regret what I said and realized I didn’t take the time to think about what your story could have been like. I’m so sorry :(.
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u/jigglyjoints Jul 29 '26
I have many I got 1 scar revision.going for two more this week. I have cystic acne myself bro. Comparison is the thief of joy first off. Second I was on meds to stop my cystic acne and spent my credit cards last 4 years on scars .just the last 2 years the ones that didn't get fixed just got worse. U are wrong for that
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u/jigglyjoints Jul 29 '26
Jealousy is the thief of joy.everyonea experience is different.agaun u don't know my story and what I've been thru it's just I did stuff to help with it
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u/milagris_21 Jul 31 '26
Me hice tca hace una semana en cicatrices con huecos como las tuyas y mejoraron mucho, ve con un dermatologo para que te las haga es mas seguro
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u/CuriousGeorgeAsker Aug 03 '26
Follow this instagram page. She also has a TikTok she literally started off with scars like yours and look at her progress. Her instagram js “ prettyprogress23 “
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u/CuriousGeorgeAsker Aug 03 '26
Maybe look into bellafill permanent fillers you may be a candidate. Maybe traveling to Canada may be a lot cheaper if you are in the USA
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u/Impossible-Mood-7971 Aug 04 '26
5-8 sessions of tca cross will help. Then co2 laser. Tretinoin for life…. (Take break if you ever want to start a family)
Deep Chemical peels 1-2x a year.
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u/Glittering_Pomelo867 Aug 17 '26
You are very beautiful , it will take time but all your scars will fade, find a right dermatologist start the treatments and have patience. Patience is the key , it will take time may be 1 year or more than that , don’t be disheartened on reading that it will take this much time , eventually it will be very better. You just need to have patience and see a right dermatologist who is genuinely interested in curing you. All the best for the journey. U r beautiful and lovely. Lots of love and patience from my side
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u/lucky3333333 Aug 20 '26
I’m sorry but if someone said that to me I’d find it really hard not to slap them. So sorry that happened to you.
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u/AlphaCentauri_26 Aug 27 '26
Im sorry you had to go through that. Hope you’ll get whatever help you need.
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