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Hi everybody,
My time has come to actively seek treatment for my scars. I'm 24 and I've suffered acne for around 12 years which left my whole face covered with all the scar types imaginable. In the past I was often told that my skintone is too dark to be effectively treated (half Indian/half Dutch) and that my scars would be here to stay forever. These days however, I see more and more darker skinned individuals being successfully treated and I feel my time has come to turn my life around and join these lucky guys.
Right now I have planned a few appointments with dermatologists in the Netherlands but I am afraid that, like before, all of them will turn me down because of my tanned skin. In recent years I came to believe that the expertise and methods to treat darker skintones are simply not available in the Netherlands and are better found abroad, for example in the UK. (From what I understand is that re-cell, which could decrease the risk of pigmentation issues is only practised in the UK; I haven't seen it offered anywhere else in Europe.)
In preparation of the appointments I have with the dermatologists in the Netherlands, I would like to tap into the expertise of the people on this board. Do you think my skin can be treated? Which lasers/treatment options? Which settings? Any recommendations for doctors in Europe? Anything is welcome!
For reference I have added two pictures. One in the best lightning possible (people asked me whether I photoshopped it 😉 and another picture, from a few years ago, which shows my left cheek.
Firstly, never lose that dashing smile! 
That was the first thing I saw when I looked at your photos.
Don't limit yourself to lasers. There are many treatment options out there, even those that are better suited to darker skin tones. Hyper/hypopigmentation is icky so you want to avoid it at all costs. Maybe some other members with similar skin tones can give you advice on lasers but sadly I cannot. I am as white as a ghost and lasers did not do the trick for me and I am still recovering from the post-laser redness even almost two years out from my last treatment.
I have managed to improve my scarring up to 80% with the Dermaroller (professional treatments, no in-home stuff) and can tell you that this works on all skin types and tones! There is also the eDermastamp for the more isolated scarring (I am scheduled for these treatments at the end of August) and even an awesome device that injects HA solution into your skin to not only plump up your scarring there and then, but to also induce a wound-like effect (subscision effect) that will prompt your skin to build more collagen - this is called the EnerJet (previously Airgent). There are also fillers, like Restylane. Not permanent, but extremely effective!
When you think about your scarring, go in thinking about using more than one treatment option. If you choose to go with a laser, also think about combining this with something else like subscision, fillers, skin needling. Way better results to be had when you approach things this way!
xx
Firstly, never lose that dashing smile!
That was the first thing I saw when I looked at your photos.
Don't limit yourself to lasers. There are many treatment options out there, even those that are better suited to darker skin tones. Hyper/hypopigmentation is icky so you want to avoid it at all costs. Maybe some other members with similar skin tones can give you advice on lasers but sadly I cannot. I am as white as a ghost and lasers did not do the trick for me and I am still recovering from the post-laser redness even almost two years out from my last treatment.
I have managed to improve my scarring up to 80% with the Dermaroller (professional treatments, no in-home stuff) and can tell you that this works on all skin types and tones! There is also the eDermastamp for the more isolated scarring (I am scheduled for these treatments at the end of August) and even an awesome device that injects HA solution into your skin to not only plump up your scarring there and then, but to also induce a wound-like effect (subscision effect) that will prompt your skin to build more collagen - this is called the EnerJet (previously Airgent). There are also fillers, like Restylane. Not permanent, but extremely effective!
When you think about your scarring, go in thinking about using more than one treatment option. If you choose to go with a laser, also think about combining this with something else like subscision, fillers, skin needling. Way better results to be had when you approach things this way!
xx
Thank you so much for your reply! The dermaroller sounds like a very good idea, I just ordered a 1.5mm to start with which I am then planning to use in combination with retin-a. Your 80% improvement with just the dermaroller sounds awesome! I've seen a lot of different products you use in your signature, which one of those did you use in relation to the dermaroller treatments and are you also using retin-a? Lastly, could I ask how bad your scarring was and what types of scarring you had?
For now my 'plan d'attaque' is to start with the dermaroller and retin-a (bought the 0.5 version to start with) while trying to get subcision performed on a frequent timeframe. I've also contacted Dr Khan again (from the ernesto success story) for a combination treatment (subcision + fraxel + recell) which I maybe could have after about 8-12 months, when the first results of the dermaroller and retin-a will hopefully be visible. Unfortunately his prices are skyhigh, 3 years ago it was 5000 Pounds (almost 6000 euros) for this combination treatment. I'm still waiting for his reply to get today's prices.
Pfff, it's truly a tough battle...