I am so sorry you have had to go through all this. Today, I've been thinking of all this acne and scarring stuff and I just got so down about it. Why do we have to go through so much pain? I really hope you can find happiness inside you and find happiness despite your scars (even though I'm sure that you'll get them taken care of one way or another). Could you see a psychologist? Would you consider something like mindfullness? When things are really bad I exercise (hike, run, yoga) until I get enough endorphins to feel okay. I exercise at least for 1-2 hours everyday (ex. walking 2 hours and yoga 30-60 minutes - Saturdays I hike with my flatmatefor 4+ hours). I try to not be so hard on myself. Try to find things that you like to do (photography, hiking, traveling, bungy jumping, baking, cooking?).

You need to take your mind off all this stuff about looks and focus on other things right now, it is very important.

Just FYI, I have seen guys with severe acne scarring and acne have incredibly beautiful girlfriends. Having scarring doesn't necessarily make you ugly, especially not for guys.I think the thing is that you cannot see yourself as pretty with it and therefore you will never let anyone close enough? I do this.

You WILL figure this scarring thing out. It might not be right now. Now you need to focus on getting your life in order and focus on your psyche. But you WILL be fine.

I'm so sorry you're feeling this way. I understand how it feels. Please don't give up. Have you ever considered traditional dermabrasion? It's intense but it might diminish the grid-like pattern caused by lasers. This is what I'm personally doing after subcision, TCA cross, peels and microneedling. Hang in there! X

This was a depressing read.. I wish I could do something that would miraculously cure every board user's scars and take them out of the misery that acne scarring has caused in your life. The fact that people take their precious time to visit these forums and the fact that they (we) have to deal with something they've (we've) unfairly (been) burdened with is really fucking unfortunate.

I've improved my scarring the through Subcision + Suction method but I still visit these forums from time to time give whatever I can (which is empirically not much of help; guidance and suggestions), because there's still lots of dubious people (not educated due to misinformation or new to the subject) that delay treatments or people that aren't well off and can't afford the treatments.

Robertito, great comment. That is exactly why I probably post way too much on here, because I've had such a tumultuous scar revision journey myself. I just want to help in some way because I've literally tried EVERYTHING (excisions, dermabrasion, lasers, subcision, fillers, TCA Cross).

OP your emotion is palpable. I understand what you are going through becauseat various points I have fallen into deep depression because of the pretty significant scars I have AND the vast amount of money spent and emotional burden of treatment. Even worse, there were some outright disastrous outcomes during my journey that left me much worse off. I could have written this post myself. Our stories are so similar, it's actually unnerving.

Every now and then a post like this really hits home.

I get what you're saying. I recently put a post up myself about the reaction you can get from people etc.

It has had a similar affect on my life, I don't socialise all that often, and will avoid most social situations. I've basically worked from home more or less for the past 2 years, as I can't handle being in a work environment. I was also very good looking and had a stunning girlfriend for a few years in my late teens. I've been single now for years, pretty much 10 years.

The one slight benefit I have is that a wooly hat completely covers my acne scars so I always wear a hat in public which totally gets rid of the anxiety.

I too have spent a lot of money on treatments, maybe 3k so far. I reckon I've maybe seen a 15% improvement, but it still looks awful.

The only thing that gets me through life is trying different treatments in the hope they'll work, I'm currently derma rolling, my scars are completely gone in the morning from the swelling after derma rolling, which sort of fills me with hope that a permanent filler will work.

I don't really have any advice for you unfortunately, just my story, as I feel I'm totally on the same boat as you.

This is heartbreaking, really.

Could you post some pictures so we can see what you're dealing with? The reason I'm asking is because I see a lot of stories about how acne scarring ruined ones life etc when it isn't even close to being justified. Example above, I saw pictures of templeofdoom's scarring and it's not even bad, and I'm saying that as someone who is probably way more critical of acne scarring than the average person.

The psychological problems of acne scarring are terrifying, really. You see yourself in the mirror everyday and become so obsessive about the scarring that you can't see anything else. I know it because I'm the same way. However, I don't let my scarring affect how I live my daily life. I'm still surprised whenever a girl is interested in me, like "how the fuck doesn't she see what a mess my face is?".

Look, I believe that truly severe acne scarring will make you less attractive, but I rarely see people on this forum that post that kind of severe scarring. That's why I'm wondering if you could post some pictures so I can see how bad you really have it, compared to how bad you say you have it. I don't know, you might be right, or you might not have it as bad as you think.

I don't think it's right to say it's not justified. I didn't even state the condition of mine here, or state that mine were any better or any worse than anybody else. I'm expressing the fact that he is not alone in how he feels and how it has affected his life. Regardless of whether you think mine are bad, and by the way, I appreciate the compliment, but it has affected my life in a similar way. My scarring on the right temple is classed as severe.

OP stated "I can't, for the life of me, take the pain of another person look and laugh at me" - It's exactly what I was saying in my thread a month or two ago, so I can totally relate. It's not made up - it does happen. Some people are C words.

How long have you been dermarolling your face? How isthe size of the needle? I have 2.5 mm dermaroller 540 needles and some numbing cream. I wonder how long the redness will fade away.

[Edited image out]
I picked the pic from google. This image was taken from the patient who underwent mixto treatment for acne scars.. Don't you see such improvement for your acne scars?

Ozay what kind of acne scarring do you have(rolling, boxcar, icepick) ?

I'm sure this person had subcisionand fillers done as well..

Thanks for all your feedback, I really wasn't expecting it...don't know why.
@il90 Thanks for taking the time with your words, I appreciate it. Yes I do all the things you do
@Ommmmmm haha yes trust me I've done it all. Thanks tho.
@Robertitoo believe it or not I did try the suction method, but after a few weeks it really didn't do much for me. Glad it worked for you and others tho.
@blahblah.. I wish you all the best since I'm done trying.
@FriskyCreek have you seen the posts made from Ernestoria? He posted pics a few years ago (no longer posts) and mine are similiar (slightly less deep), but couple that with permanently discolored skin tone and it looks much worse.
@TempleOfDoom, I'd trade places with you in a heartbeat if all I had were scars on my temple. If I could cover my scars with a woolly hat like u I'd be fine... trust me you're not that bad. I'd have to wear a ski mask to cover my scars so just know that, some of us here on these boards actually ENVY you.
@panicjack Doctors who post these before/after pics are CHARLATANS. They should be sodomized daily for their willingness to fool the public like that. Yes, my scars did improve like the pics shown, but after a few months it all goes back to normal. Those pictures only show the initial two weeks from the treatments, which ALWAYS look smooth. TRUST ME, doctors know this but they keep having you come in for 'touch ups'. I've lost all faith in them.
@Kristyan like I've said before I have all types. 

I'm not saying this to discourage anyone looking for options, I'm just saying from my own experience NOTHING has worked. I've always had abnormally sensitive skin growing up so that may have something to do with it.

I took a look at Ernestoria's pictures and that is indeed quite severe. Is there a reason you don't post pictures yourself? What do you mean with permanent discoloring? What color are they?

I think symmetry is really important for what we humans find attractive. This dudehas quite severe scarring but I don't think it looks too bad because it's very symmetrical.

I understand where your coming from. I had acne scars and still do after spending thousands and thousands of dollars. Most of my damage came from an erbium lasertreatment. I went in for some scars and came out with skin missing all over, dents, pock marks, a huge triangle of missing skin around the scars I wanted gone, fat loss, broken blood vessels, You name it I got it, rolling scars and box car. When he saw what he did he walked out of the office on me and said if I needed any more work it would cost me. I was left crying on the table and that was 8 yrs ago. I went for more lasers because that's what they said would help, fraxel, fraxel restore, fraxel dual, affirm, perfecta, smoothbeam, fillers, fat a lift and now needling and trying some salineand tca crossin the deep pits. I don't sleep which now is a big problem. One nite I just stopped sleeping after another treatment that didn't work and that was 4 yrs ago so now on meds and they don't even help, anxiety every day every minute. I stopped going out, don't see friends, I'm even uncomfortable in my own home with the lights on. Scars have stopped me from so many things. Esp since I got treatments that made more. I also quit my job. I worked at a golf course and couldn't take it because one year I just had normal scars then after the laser my face looked deformed like I was in an accident from the fat loss.
Recently I heard of a new RF machine that I'm looking into. it's called infini. a friend is getting it done in Dec so i'll see what she thinks of it. it's 3,000 for 3 treatments. I don't have that kind of money right now but if it's worth it i'll sell everything I have to try it. I was also hoping recell would be around by now, it was on boards but I haven't seen it around lately it's not available in the US yet. So if you ever need people to talk to just hop on these boards. Only people who have scars know how you feel. Friends say just slap some make up on and I would if they weren't indented, just dark spots but their all indented so make up makes them look worse and the texture of my skin changed from the laser. I have a doctor appointment in Nov i'll let you know what he says could help. He's supposed to be one of the best but I'm afraid he won't be able to help. I noticed a lot more doctors are needling so I'll keep that up at home.I can't believe they don't have something that really works for skin. And that insurance doesn't pay to help you out which I think they should since acne is a disease and scars left behind kill you both physically and emotionally.Imagine who we all would be today if scars didn't make us feel the way we do. I would be so much more productive and out going. Went for differentthings in life. I know there are people much worse but I can't help how I feel about myself. I'll letyou know what the doctor says in Nov. Check out infini too. Let me know what you think about it.

You can try dermastamping and maybe single needling if you havent yet

Ozay, my research is old, but Mixto was never in the league with Fraxel Repair or DeepFX. Repair at 70mg goes down about 1.4mm which seems to be the best depth, because I understand you really don't want to go into the layers of skin you would run into at greater depth. Read CollegeBoys posts. You didn't mention at what strength you were treated at, but if it isn't cranked up you will not see results. Even Repair done at lower setting will be disappointing.

Aside from the cost of those lasersthat OP can't pay at this time, and the fact that there is a LOT of people (it seems) that have had bad experiences with Fraxel repair as well, perhaps it would be a good idea to try somethingless risky such as dermastamping and subcision. Procedures that seem to benefit most people without risking further damagingyour skin.

I've been needling, I had hear of it years ago, tired it and stopped but now doing it again. It does help a bit but very slowly. I know your supposed to wait weeks apart but when I see those scars I do it again with a lower needle. No doctors that I had gone to years ago but now they all do and charge a lot so I bought the pen, stamp and roller. Take tons of vites too. I just used a saline needle to hit up some small ones so today I'm a bit bruised where the needle went, little scabs. I tried tca cross too and still hoping it helps I have to give myself time to heal. But seeing them everyday drives me crazy and make up doesn't hide pitted scars. I tried dermafladge and it does works but if you don't do it exactly right it looks likea blob on your skin. Not doing fraxel reapair, I don't see any great results and I had erbium that did worse for me taking so much off your skin. Long recovery time too for little results. I would like to try subcision but I can't seem to find any doctors around me who do it so I tried myself with a saline needle. I'm bruised so I have to heal. I've been looking for scar repair for so long since the laser damage. il90 I hope your seeing good results.

@FriskyCreek well my scars aren't quite AS severe as Ernestoria's, but yeah my face is oddly red with pale yellowish tint. I'm half Jap/White, so my skin is white with a yellowish tint. I don't post pics bc I really don't feel like I should or care to...or want to put the energy into. Trust me I have issues unlike those who have a few scars on certain areas of their faces, or those with slight scarring. I guess I look like CollegeBoy84 with more severity BUT with even a better body than his lol.

@DudleyDoRight I went full throttle with my last 2-3 Mixto's, so yeah I went all in on the level of intensity. I did go thru CollegeBoy's post but from the outset his acne scar issue was never much of an issue to begin with. But thanks.

@kristyan yes I've done it ALL lol. Thanx tho.

@sts54 thank you so much for all the kind words. It's been a hellacious road for me, but I've come to terms with my issues. I'm done. I'm over it. I'm done trying to fix an unfixable issue. I've spent way too much time and effort and $$$$ all to no avail. Now I just want to live and be content so that's what I'm doing. But I truly do hope you find some reprieve from your current fight  

il90, it is vitally important for people to do outside research. While this forum is a very good resource there are those who will direct people away from treatments that may help them based on hearsay, and not actual experience. I don't talk about other treatments that I don't have first hand experience. I believe in Repair, but not Dermabrasion or regular CO2. We had a woman on RealSelf who was the biggest opponent of Repair, and I finally got her to admit that she had never done it. Had I listened to her I would never have done Repair and I would be just as miserable as I was in 2008. On forums the negative people will almost always out number the positive people. Always be on the attack no matter which way you choose and don't be dessuaded by those who have no experience, or have not done the research.

@Dudley, I truly believe the majority of us here do our homework through multiple sites, instead of solely relying on this one...since many threads link to another source anyway. I always had multiple tabs open when doing my homework, and I noticed many were related via shared links. TBH for all the years you've been here and touting the effectiveness of Repair, I'm surprised you never posted any pics. If my treatments were a success I'd post and support the treatments I've had, but that's just me. Of course I never did because it was pointless due to its unsuccessful nature.

Well on a positive note ever since I stopped caring I have been more public and going to job interviews. It was nice to make small talk with a cute woman while waiting in line at a cafe, but I made nothing of it for obvious reasons. Seems like the world is a little better, cute cashiers making chit chat and little things of that nature. Still, I just want a job again and make some money so that's my #1 goal. Tomorrow is another day so wish me luck as I wish you all the best as well ~

Ozay, I am not done. I am older so my next step is plastic surgery. Then and only then may I post pictures. Actually the pictures posted above by Robertitoo look very much like my beginning and after pictures - except I am not a woman. The pictures I do have do not show the severity of my scars, but that womans pictures are very close. My lighting must have been bad because the scars didn't show as bad as they were.

Dudley, just curious what you hope/expect with plastic surgery regarding your scars(?). Well sht, hopefully it all goes well and we look forward to seeing those pics in the future.

PS: Living in Los Angeles, I've seen my fair share of lizard-lipped women and older gents with almost alien-like faces due to plastic surgery (Kenny Rogers comes to mind). Be careful and I truly wish you the best with the procedure.

Ozay im just curious, are your scars very deep, moderate or shallow? Could you post a picture of your scarring?

Kristyan how bout, I'll do it if you do it. I'll try my best to get the worst angle. Kinda funny cuz usually people try to get their best angle for a pic haha.