Will Retinol aid in healing burn marks from a chemical peel?

Question

I've been using retinol for large pores and blackheads, but I have an additional burn mark in the area that has not entirely faded from a failed DIY chemical peel about a year ago. Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated. I've been dealing with detrimental psychological effects from acne and scars for nearly a decade.

Laura Riehm, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  If we had pictures, we could give you a more complete answer.  Instead of continuing to treat yourself based on internet advice, find a medical office in your area.  You may have to pay a nominal consultation fee, but you can get real advice and options about your issues.No one has perfect skin, but you can probably get improvement in your scars.  Every physician will have their area of expertise and preferred treatments.  You might find success with microneedling with PRP, TCA Cross, subcision, fillers, etc.  There is no best treatment, especially chemical peel.Some lasers are proven very effective on acne scars.  After a complete consultation in a medical setting, you would probably be a candidate for a several treatment options depending on your skin type, severity of the scar and how much downtime you can take.  Keep in mind that more intense/deeper treatments require more downtime, but you will need less treatments.  If you choose a short downtime treatment plan, you will need more treatments in the series.  The most gentle would be something like the PicoSure FOCUS treatment with almost no downtime for both scars and sun damage.  It is safe for all skin types, but you would probably need 4 to 8 treatments.  Another option would be a fractional 1540 nm laser treatment like ICON or Fraxel.  With these treatment you could have redness and swelling for 1 to 3 days, but need less treatments.  Based on your skin type, you may be a candidate for a fractional CO2 treatment with 7 days of redness and swelling.  Look for a medical setting with a doctor in house, where they have multiple laser options and experience treating your scars.  Prices vary by market.  Best of luck.

Will Retinol aid in healing burn marks from a chemical peel?

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Everything you need to know about Chemical Peel

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

Will Retinol aid in healing burn marks from a chemical peel?

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Chemical Peel

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