so i've pretty much cleared up my acne now.. but while i am happy i still can't allow myself to be seen unless i'm covered in a layer of foundation which is kind of annoying. i understand that the red marks might fade with time but ideally i'd like to get some sort of treatment in the form of dermabrasion to make them go a bit faster, i also have some dented scars (are these icepick scars?) on my cheeks which aren't a very nice texture - and make it hard to apply make up evenly - and one or two of these on my forehead. i would show you some pictures but i couldn't bare to post them lol but my cheeks kind of look like in the picture. i had my last ever appointment with my dermatologist today and i asked him but he just said to have no sort of treatment for a year i thought i would only have to wait for around six months at the most, do i really have to leave it alone for a whole year? and he didn't really name any specific treatments that would be suitable for my type of scars, he just said to get a tan so they'll look better haha. i've read about something called subcision(?) and fillers but i'm really clueless about all this dermabrasion stuff so basically what i'm asking is:
1) could anyone name some specific types of treatment that would be effective?
2) how would i go about getting these done? i'm in the uk, do i just consult my doctor?
3) if anyone's had any sort of treatment how long did you wait? is the full year necessary?
no idea why he told you to get a tan bad derm and wait a year for what ? how does he even come up with these lmao
once all the discoloration goes away , it looks way better but looks like you have boxcar scars but not that deep
subcision and fillers look like there suitable for them
Do NOT get dermabrasion, the risk to benefit ratio is too high. You have mild boxcar scars that are exacerbated in appearance by the redness.There have been studies that have proven that the newer a scar is, the better it can heal via treatment. So, I definitely don't agree with your doc about the one year wait. I would recommend a fractional CO2 laser like Fraxel: Repair or Deep FX 3-4 times. Tell your derm to only laser the area with the scars; there is no use of lasering your perfectly healthy skin. After this, I would recommend fillers. Also, remember to use Retin A (or any retinoid) 2-3 times a week. In the UK, Dr. Chu is a world renowned acne scar specialist, so I would go to him if possible.
ktlouise, do not overdo anything! From the picture you posted you do not seem to have a big problem. Take a read of the Essential Day Spa forums, there is a ton of information there that you might find interesting. This is a huge forum that delves into everything. By the way you are a pretty girl, I like your look.
no idea why he told you to get a tan bad derm and wait a year for what ? how does he even come up with these lmao
once all the discoloration goes away , it looks way better but looks like you have boxcar scars but not that deep
subcision and fillers look like there suitable for them
it is pretty ironic to be told to fry your skin by a dermatologist
yeah i agree without the redness i'd be totally comfortable with my bare skin, does anyone know how long it takes for red marks to fade on their own? i presume it varies for different people but i saw someone saying it could take years
when people say fillers, do they mean as in the fillers all these celebrities get to try and make their faces look 'better'? and in that case would i have to get them regularly topped up for the rest of my life? sorry for all the questions i know nothing about all this stuff lol
Yeah wear spf everyday - do not get burned! The red marks will turn darker if that happens. Once the color fades, the marks overall won't really seem noticlable
oh really i didn't know that
ok i won't get burned, wasn't keen on the idea anyway because he said i'd have to go light on the foundation so the sun could get to my skin which is not something i can see myself doing lol. i just hope the redness doesn't stay for too long
I see more red marks then actual scars in that picture that is similar to your scarring as you describe it.
As for post acne scar treatment, you didn't specify if you did Accutane. If so, the minimum is 6 months, but personally I'd give it a year.
yeah it is mainly red marks, they look pretty terrible.
oh yes sorry forgot to add i did a course of roaccutane, i've been off it for about two months now but the marks haven't shown any sign of fading as of yet
thanks for your help!