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When Can I Get Laser or Chemical Treatment for Acne Scars After Accutane?

I am another victim of nodular acne, and thanks to Accutane, that problem was taken care of. Except for the scars.

I don't have a large amount of them, but I have several large ones, and a very noticeable one on the right side of my nose. So I am obviously looking to get a laser treatment/surgery for this. Now I have been told many different lengths of time to wait, I have heard 6 months, 2 years, and a couple other opinions.

But I never did finish my treatment of Accutane, as I only took it for 2 and a half months, as it was making me lose hair at a speedy rate. So does that still mean I should wait 6 months or 2 years? Or does that mean that maybe I could have it done sooner? My acne is very small now, and there are no more cysts, I just have these scars that haunt me. Please help.

Editor's Note: See related question, Accutane cures Acne but leaves Scars

Asked 36 months ago by manofth8nks in Puyallup, WA

Have acne scar treatments a year after Accutane

Thanks for your question. I understand that you had been on Accutane for only a couple months, and did not finish the full course. But, it is generally advised to wait one year after any Accutane treatment before pursuing any kind of elective surgery or laser surgery. Of course, there are many variables, namely, what type of procedure you plan on doing (ablative laser, nonablative laser, microdermabrasion, chemical peels, etc). Any procedure that causes bleeding or scabbing must be done... more

Don Mehrabi, MD

Beverly Hills Dermatologist

Minimal wait of 6 months after completion of Accutane before scar revision treatment

The risk of hypertrophic scarring is nontrivial for scar revision procedures such as laser resurfacing or TCA chemical peel performed within few months of Accutane. Therefore, it is advisable that one waits a minimal of wait 6 months after completion of Accutane.

William Ting, MD

Bay Area Dermatologic Surgeon

Wait 6 months after Accutane before acne scar treatments

I would still suggest that you wait 6 months because of that theoretical increased risk of scarring with any procedure that damages the epidermal/dermal barrier, which would include peels and laser treatments. Another reason to wait 6 months, however, is that any acne recurrence is most likely to occur by 6 months after discontinuation of Accutane. In the event of acne recurrence, you may wish to consider a low-dose accutane regimen, since side effects are dose-related (the higher the dose... more