Chemical peels is not a very effective treatment for significant acne scarring

Scott Trimas, MD answers: Is TCA Chemical peel effective for acne scars?

Will TCA Chemical peel help improve acne scars? If so, for which types (ice pick, rolling, boxcar) is it most effective?


Scott Trimas, MD
3 months ago

Chemical peels is not a very effective treatment for significant acne scarring. Chemical peels in general are placed on the surface and penetration is similar in all areas of the scar so their major improvement relies upon improving skin texture. With acne scarring whether it is raised or depressed, the goal is to make the skin as close to one level as possible. For example, it is like driving over hills and valleys. The deeper the valleys, the more visible the scars. The higher the hills, the deeper the adjacent valleys appear. In my opinion, either a laser abrasion typically a CO2 laser or dermabrasion are effective treatments for any significant degree of acne scarring since they take the hills down or stretch the valleys so that the skin is smoother. Chemical peels are not effective in producing this type of an effect or improvement.

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