Should I use TCA cross or erbium/fractional CO2 for my acne scars? (photos)

Question

I have red marks and acne scars. I’m using IPL to treat the red marks after which my dermatologist said to use erbium laser for the acne scars. I have used erbium before and it didn’t improve my scars by much. I asked my dermatologist if I should use TCA cross instead but she said the scars are too shallow and should improve with erbium. Based on the photos is TCA cross or erbium/fractional CO2 the better option? Also what percentage of TCA should I use ?

Nelson Lee Novick, MD · Answer

No surprise that the Erbium did little for you in the past. I have been cautioning readers for years not to fall prey to the heavy marketing for these and other kinds of relatively expensive "bells and whistles" treatments out there. The photos evidence primarily ice pick scars and rolling scars. Relatively inexpensive TCA CROSS has proven itself effective for treating ice pick scars, dilated pores and extremely narrow-based boxcar scars for well over two decades. Subcision, another time-tested and effective, relatively inexpensive technique has over a quarter of a century record of successful use for elevating and smoothing indented rolling and boxcar scars. Make sure to consult with a board certifed aesthetic dermatologist and not merely anyplace hawking the latest "next big thing" purchase it has just made. Best of luck.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Fractional CO2 laser is an excellent tool for skin rejuvenation in our center in Santa Monica. We use the fractional multi-depth ablative approach to help resurface the skin, recontour acne scars, improve incisional plastic surgery scars, and reduce surface irregularities from skin tone to dark pigmentation. Our approach utilizes a multi-depth approach that targets melanocytes in the epidermis and collagen fibroblasts in the dermis. This approach can be combined with a TCA Peel in a process known as a sapphire peel. Fractional laser is excellent for acne scars and contour scars in the skin. Patients are advised to undergo skin protocols with Melarase creams before and after treatment to help reduce pigmentation. Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads can seriously improve surface sun damage and UV related pigmentation. After the laser, we expect redness for a few weeks as the skin improves. PRP and Hydrafacial enzyme facials can further improve skin quality after fractional co2.

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

you will need a combination of treatments including TCA and laser together. you also will need at home peels like cosmelan, enlighten and aerify along with dermarolling (Emerageskin roller with anteage MD AERIFY ampules weekly).... should be started now (see link to emeragecosmetics).

if you have post inflammatory hyperpigmentation/melasma/discoloration that needs cosmelan or enlighten peels at home which we can do virtually and send to your home along with aerify peels regularly, vivatia foam, restorsea 10x, faith essence serum, and cosmelan 2 cream.

Acne scar treatment needs a combination approach for improvement.  For the best results, one should target the acne scar type.  As everyone has a unique pattern of acne scarring, the best solution is a tailored one.  Typically you need fillers like bellafill and sculptra for atrophic indented type scars with or without subcision.  Subcision for depressed tethered scars.  Vascular lasers like yellow laser, aerolase, excel V or IPL for redness or thick scars. And lasers such as fraxel, halo, maxi, pro fractional laser/erbium, co2 or fractional radiofrequency like venus viva, skinfinity, intensif or fractora microneedling RF for textural issues and superficial scarring.  Deep ice pick scars and narrow box car scars are best treated with TCA CROSS and punch excision.  All lasers are combined with microneedling and PRP to get even better results and improve healing times.   The majority of patients will have a collection of different scar types, and hence a tailored treatment plan is needed by an expert physician.  It is never about the laser or product that gives the results, its about the expert behind the equipment that gets you the outcome.  Scars cannot be cured and will need life-long treatments to maintain and build on the results.  For those at high risk for hyperpigmentation (darker skin types or asian or hispanic or mixed ethnicities) we already pre-treat the skin with cosmelan or enlighten lightening peels to prevent complications from energy-based or chemical-based treatments.  Best, Dr. Emer.

John L. Burns Jr., MD · Answer

A CO2 fractionated laser would be the most beneficial.  However, with acne scars multiple treatments over time generally result in the best results.

Should I use TCA cross or erbium/fractional CO2 for my acne scars? (photos)

Answers (4)

Answer: Acne scars

Answer: Acne scars

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Should I use TCA cross or erbium/fractional CO2 for my acne scars? (photos)

Answers (4)

Answer: Acne scars

Answer: Acne scars

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Everything you need to know about CO2 Laser

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.