I can relate to almost everything in your post. And as you said, your scarring is very mild, but as most of us know that doesn't stop us from analyzing our insecurities and letting it hold us back from life. We've all been there. Anyway, the texture of your skin over the scarring appears to be very smooth which is a HUGE advantage. It looks like you mostly have isolated scarring which can be improved with derma stamping. I would recommend 1.5mm once every 6 weeks only. For your smaller scars, saline injections can work wonders to help soften the scar tissue and release the tethers. I honestly wouldn't look into any laser resurfacing being that you have a lot of healthy looking skin that doesn't really need to be tightened. Subcision might also be an option if you don't get the level of improvement you're looking for.

Thanks for the informative reply!

It's tough to admit as well You're right about, regardless of how it may seem to others, we still scrutinize flaws that we have, which effects us negatively... Especially in my industry. Maybe that's apart of a reason that I feel this way. It really makes me feel like less of a man -_-

Anyway, do you think that I'd benefit without possible complications from DermaStamping, using 1.5mm?

and I heard of Saline Injections. I should go research this because I have not yet read up on it.

To be honest, I don't even think they are tethered down either, so Subcision might not do much.

I'm not sure they were ever tethered down, but if they were, wouldn't my last Fillers have broken the tethers,

since he was using a needle in those general areas?

Thanks again for your reply. I hope you're seeing results on your journey. Do you have mostly isolated scarring as well?

Complications are unlikely with dermastamping, but you could always experiment with a shorter length such as 1mm once a month for a few months on just one scar and the area around it. Dermarollers on the other hand do have possible negative side effects because of the trenches they can create under the surface of the skin, whereas stamping targets the scar tissue vertically. As for the fillers you had, they don't necessarily help soften scar tissue as much as saline injections would, because when injecting saline, you're injecting .5cc-1cc per scar creating a lump that stretches the skin out quite a bit.

It may be a good idea to get some of your vitamin levels tested and even an ana to ensure proper healing. That may sound a bit extreme, but when it comes to your face it's important to take all precautions, and doctors question if you have autoimmune disease prior to performing scar treatments to prevent a negative outcome. Being deficient in certain vitamins can absolutely effect the outcome of wound healing.

My scarring is unfortunately not isolated. I have only a few very deep scars, but my entire face is covered with shallower scarring and I have only a small amount of healthy skin left on my forehead. I look very aged more than anything else. :/

Taking the proper precautions, I'll probably start by using the 0.5mm since I've wasted enough time procrastinating.

Saline Injections sound interesting for restoring shallow scars, I'll definitely have to read more into it. I did a brief Google search, but had to specify "saline injection acne scars" because the search results came back sort of, er, disturbing. :S

I completely agree with you about getting your vitamin levels tested. *I hate going to anywhere where I have to mention my skin though. -_-

Is your situation improving with your current regimen? You seem to have a positive outlook on life though, so thank god you have that at the moment. It's very important. I don't know if you were ever a cigarette smoker, but I'm coming off of them and it's a rough ride to keep your mind on the right track.

PS: Have you ever tried Copper Peptides in your Derma Stamping regimen?

and what brand would you recommend for Dema Stamp?

Hey, I wanted to share with you my journey through what all of us here go through before I ask for advice, but I feel like it would be too long of a read, so I'm going to shorten (hopefully enough). SKIP TO BOTTOM PARAGRAPH TO SKIP MY RANT.

So, I'm now 24, started getting bad/cystic acne when I was 15. It ruined my self-esteem worse than anyone I know. I never got my license until recently, and still need to get my next one. I have had many girlfriends in the past, yet it didn't seem to help my self-esteem one bit. I started smoking cigarettes because of acne, blemishes and scarring and have been quitting on and off for a long time. I have went on a few vacations in my short life-time, yet came back still just as depressed. I avoided and still avoid parties, dates with girls, etc. because of the rolling scars that came along after my 5 month course on Accutane.

To fast forward, because I feel like I would be able to write way too much above, and you get the picture.... So for the past 2 years, I have not went on one date. For example: A girl that hit on me at work, got my number, etc. We were supposed to go on a date, but I kept on telling her B.S. like "I'm not over my ex, bla bla.", just so that I could get her off my back at this continuing dark time in my life (playing it off cool, heh heh).

I quit my job recently, I rarely go out, and when I do, I don't like staying for long, let alone sober. I can write so much more but I just can't even think of it right now. I am very depressed. I NEVER go out unless its for shopping or to work.. or for a bike ride for some exercise. OK, that should be enough ranting for now.

The only treatment I have done, were fillers. That's it. It improved a bit, but not much... I was so robotic at the time I got them (about a year ago), that I don't even remember what type of filler it was. My life has been a mess for the past 8 - 9 years and I feel like all that wasted time was over stupidity, but stupidity that I couldn't and still cannot control. (Oh and I'm a DJ/Prod. I released a small album on a record label and lately haven't been working on a new one because of my depression. Idiotic, no? I was handed an opportunity to do what I love.... and, yeah.... I suck at living.)

Any ways, does any one have any suggestions on what I should do with this type of scarring (I think it's rolling scars, more on the shallow side as a Derm once told me.) Please be kind btw, I understand some people don't think my scarring is bad, because people here love to compare their problems to others... The reason why I wrote that semi-lengthy life story on my acne and scarring journey, was to show you, no matter what people think about my problem, I feel absolutely damaged because of it and continue to feel this way. *sigh*

can relate to this , honestly i have school in a month and i dont even know what to do cause of my scars still

Everything is relative, which is why people, including myself, have hard time understanding the problem you think you have right now. I would die to have a skin like you and many of us on this forum probably feel the same. Rolling scars are relatively easy to fix and it's the only type of scars that can be restored 100%, at least according to doctors.

For a guy, your skin is almost flawless. Having a skin that's a lot worse than you with more complexion (oiliness, large pores, scars), I think you are judging yourself way too harsh. Some of us on the forum were born with "bad" genetics, which makes our efforts to restore skin futile most of the time. Also, because of genetics, I am also suffering from hair loss. Imagine what that combination would be like

My point is, you are blessed with your skin, so don't be afraid of what others think of you. Chances are, they don't even notice your scars, and even if they do, scars are so minimal that they don't/won't care. I would not recommend going on any treatment, especially harsh treatments, because most of them will make your skin very sensitive. I would consider 1.5 mm dermastamp to be one of harsh treatments, and I really think you should bump it down to 1.0 mm or even 0.5 mm if you desperately want to start the treatment. I had horrible scars to begin with, and after going through numerous treatments, I kinda wish I never started this journey in the first place because of constant redness, sensitivity, and lack of results I have to fight against. It's a bridge of no return, which I do not think you should cross.

Thanks for your reply.

I broke my cellphone, so the cellphone camera I'm using right now doesn't take good pictures. I'm sure it looks a little worse than what those pictures show. Regardless, I tried taking them in bad lighting, and bad lighting sure has a way of making them look horrible.

I do wish I could take your advice and just forget about it, but I'm just not programmed that way. It's unfortunate and odd, because I'm pretty strong in other aspects of my life, but this just drags everything down. My sense of direction and motivation is directed in the right place but it's being shadowed by my "over-harshness" towards myself.

I do think though, that dermastamping would definitely help in my situation. I will definitely start off around 0,5mm - 1.0mm and will take all the necessary precautions. I am still reluctant to do anything, but I have got to try something... within reason.

Quitting cigarettes is definitely a great idea especially in terms of scarring- over time it worsen the appearance of the scars due to loss of collagen. I used to smoke years ago, luckily got myself out of that but it's not easy.

I actually haven't tried copper peptides but that is something I'm looking into, many people report added benefits when using it with stamping. I bought my derma stamp from owndoc. It's pretty decent quality, not amazing but better than what you will find most other places online. I would frequently replace it, though, to prevent the needles from getting dull and to potentially give you better results.

I can definitely understand why you would be upset over your scarring- not because it's bad, but because it's still scarring nonetheless. I know some people may find it frustrating to see people with smoother skin than themselves upset over it, but even when my skin was relatively scar free I was still devastated. Acne scarring is psychologically devastating and you can't measure heartbreak- your perception of how you think it looks determines how upset you're going to be. People with body dysmorphic disorder for example suffer from severely distorted body image and yet their feelings are not any less relevant.

Please post updates on here if you are comfortable with it, by the way

Taking the proper precautions, I'll probably start by using the 0.5mm since I've wasted enough time procrastinating.

 

Saline Injections sound interesting for restoring shallow scars, I'll definitely have to read more into it. I did a brief Google search, but had to specify "saline injection acne scars" because the search results came back sort of, er, disturbing. :S

 

I completely agree with you about getting your vitamin levels tested. *I hate going to anywhere where I have to mention my skin though. -_-

 

Is your situation improving with your current regimen? You seem to have a positive outlook on life though, so thank god you have that at the moment. It's very important. I don't know if you were ever a cigarette smoker, but I'm coming off of them and it's a rough ride to keep your mind on the right track.

 

PS: Have you ever tried Copper Peptides in your Derma Stamping regimen?

and what brand would you recommend for Dema Stamp?

 

 

 

 

Yeah I agree. Painfully tough...

Smoking also constricts blood vessels which then causes a decrease in blood flow. It also effects your immune system negatively. I'm sure those factors play a large role when trying heal.

I have been reading up on Copper Peptides versus Terproline. So far I have found that people get better results adding Terproline in their Derma Rolling/Stamping regimens. (I still need to do more research though). Keep in mind that all of our skin reacts differently, so it's all based on what works best with your skin. Thanks for the suggestion on the OwnDoc stamps. They look awesome! I have sensitive skin (olive skin) so I don't know if I should start off on 0.5mm or 1.0mm... I have some time to make up my mind though. The one thing that sucks is, I have to wait a few weeks before starting this procedure, while I get this Nicotine out of my system to ensure I heal properly.

You were able to put those exact feelings into words, better than I ever could.

On another note, I'm back to work in a week! : - )

Yeah, I'll definitely post updates. Thanks for the suggestion!

Cheers. You've been really helpful!

For people with shallow rolling scars... Even if only some of them appear to be tethered down, would it be a better idea to do Subcision first before attempting Derma Stamping/Rolling or the opposite?

In my opinion, I feel that doing a Subcision procedure first would help with the scars that are tethered down. Once that issue is tackled, then I think it would be more appropriate to do Derma Stamping/Rolling since you don't have to worry about not seeing results based on tethered down scars. Any improvements thereafter would be indicative that there are no tethered down scars, so any improvements are likely to yield better results doing them in this order.

Any thoughts?