What Can Be Done to Further Treat Small Ice Pick Scars on Cheeks After Frazel and Tazorac?

asked 7 months ago by db70 in Calgary, AB
Latest answer by Timothy Jochen, MD
Question viewed 320 times
Tags: alternative, ice pick scar, options

Hi. I've suffered acne & acne scarring my entire life. I had severe infantile acne that left numerous small ice pick scars on my cheeks. I picked up a few more through adolescence and adulthood. I am a 40 year blond/blue male with dark, oily skin. I had 5 sessions of Fraxel Re:Pair 4 years ago and saw probably 50% improvement. Since then I have been using Tazorac 3 times a week with some additional improvement. What else should I try?

5 answers to What Can Be Done to Further Treat Small Ice Pick Scars on Cheeks After Frazel and Tazorac?

LaViv

Ice pick acne scars are tough to treat. LaViv which is using your own fibroblasts injected into the scar are has been shown to help the depressed scars.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

I like the eMatrix fracitonal radiofrequency device for pitted acne scars.

We are seeing good improvement with the eMatrix radiofrequency device for the treatment of pitted acne scars. Multiple treatments at maximum energy is required. Minimal redness can be covered with makeup following treatment and lasts 5 to 7 days, no real down time. Additional Fraxel Repair treatments can also be helpful. You will have much more down time following Fraxel Repair treatment. see video

Mark Taylor, MD
Salt Lake City Dermatologic Surgeon

www.gatewaylasercenter.com

Additional fractional ablative laser and/or CROSS treatment with TCA could help

Additional fractional ablative laser and/or CROSS treatment with TCA could help. You could see Dr. Kent Remington in Calgary for expert advice on your options for scar management -- he is an expert on that subject, and has done extensive teaching over the years.

Kevin C. Smith, MD
Niagara Falls Dermatologic Surgeon

What works to treat acne ice pick scars?

Other treatments for acne scarring besides the Fraxel laser and the topical medication Tazorac, which you say you have tried, include fractional C02, the dermaroller, subcisions and even possibly fillers. Depending on how it looks, even small excisions may be beneficial.

Timothy Jochen, MD
Palm Springs Dermatologic Surgeon

Ice Pick Scarring

Fraxel can help, like you said, for about 50% max of the scarring, but not for the very deep ice pick scars, as it cannot penetrate that deeply. I would suggest you seek consultation with a physician for filler (like Restylane) into these deeper scars. I've had great success in evening out the skin tone and scarring with this. You will have to do it every so often, maybe 1x per year since the spots are smaller and you're not trying to fill areas like the lips or nasolabial folds, but... more

F. Victor Rueckl, MD
Las Vegas Dermatologist

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