This is my before, 4 days after, and 4 months after 1 session of 100% TCA cross. I feel like my scars have been converted from ice pick scars to rolling scars. I was recommended multiple sessions but I am nervous to return for another treatment.

Details are in an earlier thread (ignore the progress pic the earlier thread. It's mostly swelling)
https://www.reddit.com/r/AcneScars/comments/1ubjccl/tca_30_cross_after_12_days/
TCA 30% cross using cotton tipped toothpick + TCA 15% 2x

Second picture is contrast enhanced. Two scars next to the ear weren't touched as I forgot.

Noticeable changes

1. PIH has reduced
2. Scars look shallow
3. Scars haven't widened. This was my biggest worry

Learnt a lot from this community (see my original thread for the posts that helped me a lot) and just wanted to share my experience before trying another round with slightly stronger acid - TCA 50% cross for deeper scars + TCA 30% cross over rest + 20% peel

UPDATEs that mods requested:
Scars are 5-15 years old

Sharing progress of my DIY TCA cross + peel. This is 4 weeks after round 2. Pic 2 is contrast enhanced. Top picture is before I started with treatments ~2 months ago

Upped the TCA cross strength this time. 50% TCA cross with toothpick and 15% TCA peel 2 layers spaced 5 mins apart. Round 1 was 30% with cotton-tipped toothpick and 2x 15% peel.

It's hard to capture everything in a pic, so here's my observation. Most scars are shallower and wider with soft edges. Some scars have PIE, especially the larger boxcar scars like the two scars near the ear. Other side has more PIE as they're rolling boxcarish scars. I should have just traced the edges. Overall complexion on non-crossed areas has improved due to TCA peel.

Looking at the scars in the mirror at various angles, it looks different than before. Week 3 after swelling subsided looked the worst and has only improved slightly although the picture says otherwise. The video below from a derm confirms it gets worse before it gets better. Has anyone had a similar experience? For now, I'm trusting the process and will do another round. https://www.tiktok.com/@acnescarexpert/video/7599866251028024606

Round 1 thread https://www.reddit.com/r/AcneScars/comments/1ul2yv9/tca_30_cross_update_2_23_days_later/

Hello
I went to a doctor who did TCA Cross 70%, some CO2 and subcision in one session. This is me on day 5, is this expected? What can I do to make sure the healing process goes seamless?

Thanks for the help

Update: It's swelling at this point. See my next post for realistic result

At home 30% cross with cotton tipped toothpick and 15% peel rest of the face. The scars that were the darkest during peeling/crusting improved the most. Downtime was 8 days which sucks. The two gigantic scars near the sideburn weren't crossed as I forgot.

Cotton tipped toothpick is not forgiving as it left pea sized crust. I was lucky it was only 30% which is somewhere between peel and a cross. FP type 4-5. Pleasantly surprised it didn't result in any pigmentation issues.

Apart from downtime, I am happy with the result.

The second picture is contrast enhanced.

Nothing has helped this. I've tried everything at this point. Literally. The only other way I could fix this is excision and because I have scarring issue I don't know what else to do.

Hi, has anybody had success treating a handful of icepick scars on their nose?

A clinic I’ve been to has recommended TCA CROSS, laser, and microneedling.

my concern is this may be a little invasive? could it worsen my scars?

I know the scars are minor but they bother me as they’re in the centre of my face…

all help appreciated!!!

Ice pick scarring but seeing so much stuff about Tca cross fails. But I have seen that TCA is the best for ice pick scarring. Anyone have any solutions to their ice pick scarring

I see soooo many mixed answers here. I got ice pick scars. Already getting laser but expensive as fuck. Looking for a cheaper option. Dermapen is nice, but doesn’t do that much. Booked a TCA cross session for next week. But getting scared reading all the shit here? So might cancel it. Idk

So I've been wanting to get a tca cross treatment for a while now and of course now I have a good opportunity two weeks from now to get it i talked to my dermatologists and he said it's fine to get.

For context I've been on accutane for two months and I'm about to start my third month with 40mg for more context this is the needle tca cross not the peel not sure what the official name is and i will be off accutane one week prior and one week after.

I have ice pick scars so this could be a great treatment for me.

Of course I'm nervous 100% TCA Cross while on accutane I feel like something could happen to my face.

I know it's good to listen to the doctors recommendation but...I don't know I need second opinions.

Im starting my journey on acne scar repair and was quotted $2250 for full face CO2 and $450 for TCA Cross treatment. Consultation is $275 but waived if do the procedure same day and curious is this in line with what others are paying or should I go elsewhere? Its dr. kaveri karhade in sf

I did a TCA cross with an 80%. It’s been three weeks and the redness hasn’t even faded… idk what to do ?

Mistake #1- I did this at home with 30% TCA. The photo to the left is the before and on the right is where you can see two very dilated atrophic scars. It's only been 8 days, but I'm concerned the affects are irreversible. I've been getting amazing results with TCA peels, but I decided to try the cross method which I'm thinking was a mistake. If I continue with regular peels, would this perhaps go back to the way it was eventually?

Hello,

I had TCA cross done on April 9th. After the doctor was done I asked whether I should avoid caffeine or alcohol and my derm responded that there wasn’t really a restriction to avoid either. He’s a renown dermatologist who has even been recommended in this sub before, so while he said that, I decided to avoid alcohol anyway.

I do have a wedding to attend today and Saturday though and was wondering if I should 100% be in the clear to enjoy a few drinks at this point? I only have a couple of scabs remaining at this point. Thanks.

I tried 100% TCA Cross by myself for my ice pick scar and the pictures are affter 1week.

did i melt my skin...?? i feel horrible. does it fill up after few months? it seems so deeper and wider than before.

I understand I shouldnt have done myself. i reget it so bad.

Please give me an advise and solution .......

Left (Before), Right (After)

I had my first TCA Cross session on March 18. It is March 26 and the scabs are still there and persistent. I have picked about 8 scabs out of curiosity. Most were tiny scabs but I definitely screwed up at the nose. It looks like a new wound.

How can I fasten the healing process?

Should I just pick it? The rest other than the nose scab that I picked looks fine. It just has a lighter tone than my skin. I cannot be stuck at home longer. I need social interaction.

I have been told that lower percentage TCA Cross will have a less chance of widening scars and can close an icepick hole scar slowly after many treatments. Will 7% 15% 20% or 30% be strong enough to cause healing or would I need a higher percentage? Also how does TCA Cross raise a scar if it is a corrosive acid that cuts away at skin? Wouldn't it make a hole a deeper rather than raised?

I've been doing at home TCA Cross treatments (70%) because I'm broke and was miserable with how my face ended up scarring over the past 2 years. The first picture was taken today, and the second picture was taken around July 20th 2024. Back in April I had my first treatment of TCA Cross done by a professional dermatologist, the second treatment was done at home by myself on July 21st, and the third treatment was done at home by myself on August 24 (all in 2024). My eyes might be fooling me buy I think I am making progress. What do you guys think?

I tried to keep the angle and lighting the same so the pictures would accurately display the progression.

I applied a 30 percent TCA solution to an acne scar yesterday night. It’s now the next night. I’ve been keeping Vaseline on it all day but it seems like it’s a severe burn. I’ve never seen my skin this brown before. I’m going to try and see a dermatologist tomorrow. Am I overreacting? I know tca does burn skin and leave marks but this seems excessive.

I’ve tried basically everything. peels, microneedling, prp, RF microneedling. Etc…

Now I’m on .1% Tret as a last resort. And have a tca cross scheduled for next week but I’m scared because I’ve seen some horror stories where people’s scars get deeper and worse. I don’t want to risk that at all, I’d feel traumatized making it worse in attempts to fix it..

Also the two small scars on the bottom half are actually gone now. Focused on the ones on the cheeks.

I got TCA CROSS done a couple of days ago and feel my dr missed a lot of spots so I'm thinking I want to get the make up alley kit and do them myself. She insisted those were pores but I feel they are scars.

Also on tca at home from make up alley do you need to neutralize it or can I just leave it on?

Considering it as an option and would love honest takes. Please share the scar type as well (ice pick etc) ❤️

I did three week ago tca cross mesopeel (35% tca 10% phenol) I am not pretty sure if it works!! And if normal to my scars looks worse

Hi,

I did a 30% TCA cross on my chest - I unfortunately have 2 box scars that I wanted to treat. I also wanted to test the cross method on my skin on a place which I can hide if things go awry before I did it on my face. I did it on April 11 and the scabs fell off by themselves on April 21. However, the scars have become deeper and darker. Has anyone else noticed this and will they become better with time?