Hey

 

I am on tazorac .1% and i have been for approx. 2 months. I have seen HUGE improvement in my indents to the point where they are almost gone.

What I done to get to this point is prob not reccommended by anyone but you wanted success stories so heres mine =). I had some indents and there were still some under the skin bumps around then I picked at the skin and surrounding skin - just squeezed a little and it was all red. Then I would apply tazorac to it. I slept with tazorac on - I applied a thick layer rubbed it in waited for it to dry and then applied spot tmt's to the indents and went to bed (by spot tmts I mean i applied a big blob to the areas and left it). This made the area scab over - I still kept my routine and applied the taz to the scabs. They only took a few days (maybe 5ish) to fall off then underneath he skin had improved. I repeated this procedure 5 times. Now I almost am scar free. I don't know if this worked so well for me b/c my scars were fairly fresh (under a year old) but it worked. I basically dried the shit outta my skin - I used no mositurizer @ all and did this when I first started taz so my skin wasn't used to it and it did get dry, scab peel etc. Now my skin has adjusted to taz. I still use it everynight and do not wash it off. It does not make me red or peel now. I still have a few small indents which are only noticeably in certain lights and I still continue to spot treat and go to bed with hopes they will be gone completly soon. Everyone tells me they are gone and it was amazing what taz done for me so I am possiably only being paranoid - I can only see them now under direct foresent light or when I take a picture with the flash on and zoom into a billion times.

I am a beliver that scars can go away w/o invasive procedures.

Sorry for my half-ass response, but I'm about to head to bed and wanted to reply real quick. Maybe your scars were superficial? I'm very happy to hear that has worked for you though - I WISH that would work for me. I would be too scared to try. Tazorac seems to be making my skin worse nowadays, even when I use it sparingly. Either way, consider yourself lucky!

(BUMP) Anyone else?

i had a series of 5 Fraxel Restore. last one was about 3 weeks ago. they were done 1 month apart. after the second one i noticed a little improvement. after 3rd i got even more improvement. after 4th one im starting to gain confidence. after 5th one im extremely impressed with the results. my scarring was pretty bad. rolling scars not very deep but very noticeable all over my cheeks. i also have a few deeper scars which are still visible but im getting subcision for those before my last fraxel. i never tried anything else for scarring but i can tell you that this one made a big difference. im so pleased with the results. it may not work for everyone though just like any other skin treatment. anyway if you search the forums people who got 5 or more fraxels are ussualy happy with the results.

the settings were:

1st: 60mj and level 7 density

2nd: 70mj and level 8 density

3rd: 70mj and level 9 density

4th: 70mj and level 9 density

5th: 70mj and level 10 density

so basically maximum power for the laser. majority of people who got at least 5 fraxels at high settings got good to excelent results. people who did not get good improvement either got low settings or not enough sessions or both.

I am caucasian with skin type 3, which is best for high settings of laser. type 1 and 2 may burn too much and 5 and 6 may get change in skin color from high settings of the laser.

but basically anyone with scars that are not super deep and with skin type 1-4 can get good improvement from Fraxel Restore. it takes patience and faith to get the desired results.

 

 

You just joined the other week and have pretty detailed numbers and figures and talk about confidence boosting. No offence, but this sounds like advertisement. I KNOW i shouldnt just claim that after reading positive results from fraxel but there's a tone to your post that doesnt sit well.

 

I've had 7 restores and 2 vbeams for a slight improvement. Some days my scars look like theyve improved a GREAT DEAL but for some reason, they go back to being really terrible for the majority of time. I don't really understand why there's such a huge difference. Overdrying skin and harsh products definitely make scars look worse though.

 

Any way, I'm going in for a few consultations in Sydney (moving very soon). I'll keep you guys posted. I'm willing to get a couple subcisions and then begin derma stamping and rolling at home for several months and also might get a temporary filler if I still feel like i've got no results after the subcisions.

 

Best case scenario, doctor says yes subcision will work for you, do two treatments, stamp and roll my scars for half a year regularly and lightly and then just maintain my now shallow/moderate scars. Well I guess best case scenario would leave me with shallow scars but yeah, not hoping for that much really. Would be really nice though.

 

Worst case scenario, this time next year i'll begin my life-long treatment with fillers and that's even if they do something and keep using filler a few times a year until in 2070 they come out Fraxel Cure

 

dude im not trying to advertise anything. i researched all scar treatment procedures and i know pretty much anything about all of them in theory but i started with this one. i did not give you the name of the doctor or clinic...that would be called advertising. anyway i mentioned that i had rolling scars on large areas of my cheeks BUT they were NOT DEEP. deep scars dont improve very much with lasers, not even with CO2. and i also said that i had few deeper scars for which im having SUBCISION done to make them more shallow. And it would be very stupid not to know your settings after so many treatments done. And why would you do 7 Fraxel Restore if you did not see any improvement after 3rd one?

 

Hi guys, can you please post before and after pics? that would be helpful.. I really wanna try fraxel restore, but not sure if its worth the money. im from toronto and the place im looking into costs me 500 or so for each session

Hey Sapphire Lily,

I have a makeup trick that still leads people to believe I have "perfect skin." I use Almay's blemish concealer (in Light) and Physician's Formula mineral blush in Peach or Blushing Nude. After I cleanse my skin and apply all the topicals I want, I apply the blush first. The color of the blush actually blends some of my redness together, and makes things easier to conceal. Next I apply foundation ONLY where I have a red spot to cover up. Apply a small amount of concealer to the red area, and gently blend - adding more concealer if more coverage is needed. It is the same way artists layer paint - start with the darker colors first (I paint). I can cover just about any color and a lot of textures this way. And because you're not caking your face with foundation, you get a really nice finish - most people say my face has a glow to it, and ask if I'm wearing makeup at all.

You'll have to experiment a little to get into the groove, but after you master it, it is a nice trick.

I have two shallow scars that I am currently treating with copper peptides, and I think they are slowly but surely filling in. The thought of using TCA Cross scares the crap out of me - and I won't ever try it. My stepmom is an RN, and they use that acid to freeze off stuff from your body! Not something I want to put on the delicate skin of my face.

I use a peel called Fruit Fiesta Peel from MyChelle once a week, and put Super Copper Peptide Serum by Skin Biology on every night before bed. I added the copper peptides in less than two weeks ago, and I honestly think they are working.

Title says it all - I would really like to see some less invasive scar treatment success stories on this site. Some positive results would be refreshing to see. Either success stories are hard to find, are rarely existent, bombarded with negative feedback, aren't updated etc. I don't know about you, but cheap alternatives to fix scarring is all I can afford. It seems like the expensive lasers aren't working anyhow, except with Dudley and a lucky few. So please post your success here, and I hope to see this thread grow over time. Give me and others hope (Edit: No matter how big or small the improvement!)

 

What kind of scarring do/did you have?

What treatments are you doing/have you done?

How long have you been treating your scars?

What topicals and/or vitamins/supplements are you using, if any?

How much improvement have you seen?

etc.

 

Also, I would like to hear some makeup routines from those of you girls that 'soften' your scars with it. I know it's temporary, but anything is definitely better than nothing!

 

Please keep negativity to yourself, I know it's hard Hopefully I'll be sharing a success story with all of you sooner or later. Good day and happy healing!

Hey Sapphire Lily,

 

I have a makeup trick that still leads people to believe I have "perfect skin." I use Almay's blemish concealer (in Light) and Physician's Formula mineral blush in Peach or Blushing Nude. After I cleanse my skin and apply all the topicals I want, I apply the blush first. The color of the blush actually blends some of my redness together, and makes things easier to conceal. Next I apply foundation ONLY where I have a red spot to cover up. Apply a small amount of concealer to the red area, and gently blend - adding more concealer if more coverage is needed. It is the same way artists layer paint - start with the darker colors first (I paint). I can cover just about any color and a lot of textures this way. And because you're not caking your face with foundation, you get a really nice finish - most people say my face has a glow to it, and ask if I'm wearing makeup at all.

 

You'll have to experiment a little to get into the groove, but after you master it, it is a nice trick.

 

I have two shallow scars that I am currently treating with copper peptides, and I think they are slowly but surely filling in. The thought of using TCA Cross scares the crap out of me - and I won't ever try it. My stepmom is an RN, and they use that acid to freeze off stuff from your body! Not something I want to put on the delicate skin of my face.

 

I use a peel called Fruit Fiesta Peel from MyChelle once a week, and put Super Copper Peptide Serum by Skin Biology on every night before bed. I added the copper peptides in less than two weeks ago, and I honestly think they are working.

Hi there Thanks for replying! I will try out your makeup routine since I have/it's easy to get the supplies, but I'm almost sure it wouldn't work out for me. I don't really have much hyperpigmentation or any acne for that matter, but what I have are lots of scarred pores & indented scars. I'm afraid the blush will sink into them and make them stand out more. Blush on top of my cheeks makes my skin look worse even when I have my whole primer/makeup routine done I could only wish I only had a couple of scars as you do. You have very nice skin from your pictures! I would kill to have it.

My face is very sensitive too, and I actually JUST sent my CP serum (from Skin Biology as well) to someone else on another message board. Oh how I wish I would've seen this earlier! I've heard some bad things about it that shied me away. I was too scared to use it, thinking it'd only irritate my skin and make matters worse. Now I wish I would've given it a shot. I've spent so much money on so many different skin products just this year.. I could've probably already had a real scar treatment by now. Let me know how things end up for you in the long run!

i had some minimal improvement with retin-a and emu oil (which i mix in with my moisturizer). I would say this combo has improved my scars and wrinkles by about 20% or so. I am still not happy and looking for more treatment. I have also undergone a few glycolic acid 70% peels (which were honostly like nothing at all when compared to the potential side effects of some treatments). I think if i continue these and start dermarolling within the next few months I may find 50% improvement but only time and further treatment will tell. If I were you, I would start with 70% glycolic peels .. they are actually very mild compared to other treatments like TCA. They only offer minor improvement in my opinion ... my skin seems to look better for a few days after, then go back to normal again (but I have only had 3 done). You can do them once a month. I had NO downtime. I think i was red for a couple hours afterwards and by the next day my skin looked like it had more of a glow with less noticeable scarring and wrinkles. THey are worth a shot and mild enough that you may learn a little more about your skin and its ability to handle/recover from treatment. If glycolic acid gives you trouble then you better be real careful of more harsh treatments. You can start at lower concentrations but 70% offers the most hope for improvement.

Hey Sapphire Lily,

Bummer! That makeup trick is awesome for red/brown pigmentation left behind by acne lesions. Well, if you ever get one, you'll have a plan to fall back on!

The Super CP Serum by Skin Biology is STRONG. I wouldn't lie to you on that. I've tried other products that boast of their awesome "CP Power," but they were like child's play compared to the Skin Biology line. My skin is also quite sensitive, and when I apply a little too much and let it sit overnight, I have experienced some redness. BUT, it clears after a few hours when I was my face in the morning. It hasn't caused me to break out and, call me crazy, but it stopped a big cyst in its tracks. I also use Emu Oil with it, so I think the two working together even each other out.

Maybe try it? I think I see the biggest improvement right after I do my peel and apply the CPs. I really do think I've see a noticeable difference in the two weeks that I've been using it. I also use Skin Biology's Lascal serum in the morning.

I'll be sure to keep you updated. I plan on posting some new pictures here in the next few weeks.

You really are a beautiful girl, by the way. Your eyes - amazing. You may want my skin, but there are many aspects you have that I would kill for.

Bump

i have done a few scar techniques...

I did subcision 4 times now total and dermabrasion once...

dermbrasion sucked bad.... and finally skin is better after a couple years healing time.

Subcision helped some things and created new issues

first time around created a line on my right cheek...

then i did subcision twice more on my problem right cheek (both of which improved it)

recently I did subcision a week and a half ago on both cheeks and my left cheek has some issues now i noticed a new semi faded line on left cheek (not as bad as one that came from right cheek back in the day...b ut still noticeable)

I am very upset right now there is some improvcement on rolling scars on left cheek but seeing the unnatural looking line makes me sick to my stomach... even tho its not bad.. Its only been a week and a half I have to give it time and stay positive to heal longer but feeling very very upset now. not sure what i will do

i have done a few scar techniques...

I did subcision 4 times now total and dermabrasion once...

dermbrasion sucked bad.... and finally skin is better after a couple years healing time.

Subcision helped some things and created new issues

first time around created a line on my right cheek...

then i did subcision twice more on my problem right cheek (both of which improved it)

recently I did subcision a week and a half ago on both cheeks and my left cheek has some issues now i noticed a new semi faded line on left cheek (not as bad as one that came from right cheek back in the day...b ut still noticeable)

I am very upset right now there is some improvcement on rolling scars on left cheek but seeing the unnatural looking line makes me sick to my stomach... even tho its not bad.. Its only been a week and a half I have to give it time and stay positive to heal longer but feeling very very upset now. not sure what i will do

 

Hey, sorry to hear about those marks. Just try your best to put it out of your mind and not stress. Stressing can make things worse. Just be gentle with your skin, and definitely give it time (:

Hi Sapphire, you are so cute. I have pined away for you for years. LOL For excellent prices on Retin-A check out AllDayChemist https://www.alldaychemist.com/568_Retin-A - I have ordered from them 4 times, and their quality is excellent. You also might want to check out the forums on EssentialDaySpa for information on minimalist approach to skin care. http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/

am trying to do... any ideas on how to take your mind off of it?

dudley good to see you still post here... how did all your fraxels end up going? I am still scared of laser....

Also, Dudley and sapphire... I use tazorac now which is like a topical retinoid... but different chemically... do you think there is a difference in the two concoctions that would help better with acne scarring than the other??

Also, do you think that one perhaps is better for acne than the other? I do use tazorac to keep acne away as well so that is a factor for me

p.s. good (and bad) to see both you and sapphire posting here.. I am glad to see familiar posters... but also sad that you guys have not been absolved of the curse that is acne scarring.

am trying to do... any ideas on how to take your mind off of it?

dudley good to see you still post here... how did all your fraxels end up going? I am still scared of laser....

Also, Dudley and sapphire... I use tazorac now which is like a topical retinoid... but different chemically... do you think there is a difference in the two concoctions that would help better with acne scarring than the other??

Also, do you think that one perhaps is better for acne than the other? I do use tazorac to keep acne away as well so that is a factor for me

p.s. good (and bad) to see both you and sapphire posting here.. I am glad to see familiar posters... but also sad that you guys have not been absolved of the curse that is acne scarring.

 

Well, one thing you can do is do something you enjoy to keep your mind occupied. Stay away from mirrors. It can be mind over matter.(:

Someone told me to not let your scars run your life, make treating them a hobby. In life we all have to face difficulties, but getting hung up over something superficial really is of no comparison to other problems. Just think of it this way, its skin, and you're doing something about it, there's always trial and error. Who knows what the future holds for scar treatments. And acne as well. I mean, if they can prevent people from getting chicken pocks, soon they'll have a cure to prevent scars. Do some research, but don't get obsessed. And getting down and stressed is no good for your health when you're trying to heal your scars. I know its hard. But you can do it. Were all here to support eachother.

im trying to... i didnt come on the forum for a couple weeks or a week to stay away... i came on here to vent in the height of my anger and frustration...

everything hit me all at once.. girl issues, scar, car accident... subcision... work stress...

Adult life inst good

Any ideas on things to do to keep your mind occupied? like working out and running is one... video games and movies/tv shows is another...

going out can be double edged because u want to look good when u meet new people and go out.