Skin atrophy

Hey all,

Im feeling pretty happy! I came across some things that may improve atrophic scarring. These are the indented ones e.g. ice picks and box car scars that seem to be soooo hard to get rid of.

Anyhoo they aren't from the usual scam websites. I found them in some journal articles and they seem to have worked in controlled studies. They aim to treat a condition known as "skin atrophy", which appears similar to indented acne scarring, though is often chemical induced.

They are:

1. Tacrolimus ointment
2. Pimecrolimus cream 1 percent
3. Elidel
4. TRIAC

I plan to look at them in more detail. If all is good, they might be worth a try

Interested to know what you all think.

Enjoy !

My Scar Journey

I’m a 22 year old student and have a combination of ice pick and box scarring all over my face.

Like most people on this site, I’ve wanted my acne scarring gone for as long as I can remember. I still think back to the days before I had any scarring and how happy I was. These days, I find myself going out and thinking to myself, I won’t always look the way that if do now, especially if I find the right treatment. Being young, with so many good looking people about, it’s easy to want to be perfect. After all, if we do only live once – what’s wrong with that?

I’ve tried snail creams, various glycolic acids, TCA and TCA Cross and seen 4 cosmetic surgeons who have all suggested expensive lasers – the result being little success. But that’s just me! I’ve heard so many stories where they have made things worse. I do believe there is a treatment out there and something simpler. After all, the need for many treatments must be entwined in the profit making of companies.

I’ll be moving into a share house soon and about to start a new job. I guess the realisation is now I won’t have the privacy or time to undertake any more treatments. This is how I will look forever. This has been a massive blow and there are times when I just hate myself and I sit back and cry. It’s interesting how sometimes we can want something so much and yet it seems unobtainable.

I wish you all of you the best with reducing your acne scarring and hope your treatments are all incredibly successful. I’m going to take one of the biggest steps of my life and just accept that I’m not perfect and far from it. I’m going to live my life and hope one day someone out there will accept me for the way I am. I will possibly also be accepting of more people. Perhaps, we all should like ourselves and everyone else just a little more.

I hope this makes some sort of difference!

Compiled info on TCA Cross

Hey everyone,

Theres so much information on here about TCA Cross treatments and how good they are for most types of indented acne scarring. I've been reading the forums for ages (even the 70 page ones) and finding as much info as possible, plus adding it to things I know have worked really well in the past !

I'd love to put out what i've found + some of the cool products and see what you all think of the possible variations. Im pretty keen to know what you all think and if anyone else is doing it out there, lets chat about it. PS i have ice pick and some box scarring AND will start in 2 weeks hopefully. Buying the stuff now and planning to do 2 100% crosses.

Think they are under the right categories, add more if you know of any


Before Cross

- lactic acid
- Tretinoin (night before),
- Vitamins C, Zinc, K (week before)

During Cross:

1. Dip the toothpick in the acid and remove all drops
2. Carefully and firmly, press the toothpick into the scar you want to cross.
3. Hold for couple seconds and give it a little spin to completely cover the inside of the pit
4. Wait until it frosts white.
5. Toothpick larger scars twice in the part of the pit not touched previously.


After Cross Healing (rub whichever one you use really deeply)

- Antibacterial: UMF
- Neosporin
- Julies healing oil (sounded good but not found it yet)
- Hyaluronic Acid
- Centella oil
- Ala/Dmae?
- Ice (cheap!)
- Manuka UMF Honey
- Puredeming intense gel
- Emu oil
- Amino Plex Spray

Have been using Bioskincare for about 3 months now. While it does not clear up any pimples and its effects on improving indented acne scarring is so mininal, have found that it has stopped any new scarring when there are any cuts etc. Looks like it might be an awesome option. Also heard of a product called Revive for healing. But its sooooooooooooo expensive.

Hyperpigmentation: (start straight after scabs come off)

- 4% hydroquinone to twice per day with .025% Retin-A
- Paula's Choice SuperAntioxidant Serum
- 70% lactic acid peels
- Mandelic Acid
- Kojic Acid