What treatment should I get for my acne scars after taking Accutane? (photos)

Question

So I finished taking accutane on March 16th and my doctor told me I should put moisturizer on my face and then apply 0.025% Tretinoin cream on my face every night before going to bed but I don't see results yet. Should I stick to Tretinoin cream to see if it will eventually help or are there better solutions? **I attached pictures of my face over the course of the past 14 days. I have noticed that my face gets red whenever I sweat or wash my face. Any help or suggestions are welcome! Thanks!

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Accutane is a go-to medication for patients with recalcitrant cystic acne. It can reduce pore size and also reduce sebum production in your skin, making it less oily; and in turn, dryer. Accutane can be used to control acne, but patients receiving the medication should be carefully monitored. In terms of skincare, always wear an appropriate sunscreen and reduce direct sun exposure. In my patients, I recommend a good ceramide moisturizer such as Elevase whenever they are on Accutane. This will keep the skin hydrated and reduce the oiliness of the skin that is associated with oil-based moisturizers.

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

Douglass W. Forsha, MD · Answer

Greetings,
Your skin looks great first of all!  To remove the scars I would suggest a combination of micro-needling and Pearl laser treatments.  Microneedling creates micro injuries to the skin that initiates the skin's natural repair system.  This natural repair system has great success in repairing collagen, elastic and developing new cells to improve scars, stretch marks, deep wrinkles while improving the overall health of the skin.  I would recommend 5 of these treatments along with a few sessions of Pearl.  Pearl is a newer laser resurfacing procedure that works similarly to the micro-needling but penetrates deeper.  Most patients can achieve smooth skin with just 1-2 treatments.  There is some downtime with the Pearl however, minimal redness for 3-4 days.  The changes in the skin will occur rapidly and improvement is noticeable within just a few weeks.  Once the treatments are complete, the skin will continue to remodel and improve each month.  Most of my patients elated with their final results.  Expect 4-6 months to achieve final results. Would love to work with you if you were in the central Iowa region.  Best of luck to you and hope this information helps!  Doug.

Jose Ramiro Hurtado Vidal, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Acne scars are stubborn, and no single treatment is best for everyone. Various methods may help improve your complexion. Your doctor may suggest one or a combination of these.
Home skin care. The appearance of scars that change your skin color may be improved with over-the-counter bleaching agents and use of sunscreen to limit contrast.Soft tissue fillers. Injecting collagen or fat under the skin and into indented scars can fill out or stretch the skin. This makes the scars less noticeable. Results are temporary, so you would need to repeat the injections periodically.Laser resurfacing. This is a skin procedure that uses a laser to improve the appearance of your skin.Other energy-based procedures. Pulsed light sources and radiofrequency devices help make scars less noticeable without damaging the outer layer of skin. Results are subtle and you may need to repeat the procedure.Dermabrasion. This procedure is usually reserved for more severe scarring. It involves removing the top layer of skin with a rapidly rotating wire brush. Surface scars may be completely removed, and deeper acne scars may appear less noticeable.Chemical peeling. High-potency acid is applied to your skin to remove the top layer and minimize deeper scars.Needling or rolling. This involves rolling a needle-studded device over the skin to stimulate underlying tissue. It's a safe, simple and possibly effective technique for acne scarring. The result is subtle, and you may need to repeat the treatments.Surgery. Using a minor procedure called punch excision, your doctor cuts out individual acne scars and repairs the wound with stitches or a skin graft. Another technique called subcision involves your doctor inserting needles under the skin to loosen fibers below a scar, to help improve its appearance.Botox injections. Sometimes the skin around acne scars puckers. Relaxing the area with an injection of botulinum toxin (Botox) helps improve the skin's appearance. You'd need to repeat the injections periodically.
To determine what's best for you, discuss the pros and cons of each procedure with your doctor or dermatologist.

What treatment should I get for my acne scars after taking Accutane? (photos)

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What treatment should I get for my acne scars after taking Accutane? (photos)

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Everything you need to know about Accutane

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