21 year old female performed TCA Cross using cotton bud on ice pick scars - will it stay like this? (Photo)

Question

Hello I am a 21 year old female currently in my third year of university. I did the worst mistake of my life and performed TCA cross using cotton buds on my ice pick scars. However its been three days and my skin does not appear to form a normal scaly snake like scab rather it appear pinks. Please I want to know will it stay like this forever and what can I do to bring my normal skin back.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Our office has many different treatments for acne scars depending on the depth of atrophy or hypertrophy. Acne scars require a combination approach using our HI DEF protocol which uses a combination of lasers, topical scar modulation, and RF treatments to pixelate scars, improve contour, reduce hyperpigmentation, and improve the visibility of the scars so that they are no longer visible in ambient light. Everyone has a unique pattern of acne scarring and we employ our HIDEF technique to improve texture, color, contour, and topography. We often use a combination of treatments that begin with a careful examination to examine the micro texturing of the acne scars. Atrophic acne scars and indented acne scars can benefit from injectable fillers such as Radiesse, Sculptra, and Restylane with or without subcision to remove tethered scars and atrophic depression. Hyper-redness in scars can be been improved with V beam laser, Excel V, BBL, IPL, and Venus RF to improve  the redness and reduce the visibility of deep scars. Fractional Thulium laser and clear & brilliant can also reduce the inflammation and redness of the scar when combined with topical therapy. Fractional laser such as Fraxel, erbium, and CO2 laser can be combined with radio frequency and also fractional RF to improve textual issues and microtopography. Subcision and TCA cross are also used for deep ice pick scars and narrow valley scars in order to improve the micro texture.  Above all, our combination approach with our clinical nurses and board-certified plastic surgeons can improve the quality of your skin by using at home Melarase creams combined with PRP treatments in our office to improve your skin quality and tone. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with an experienced team of experts in order to reduce your acne scarring.
 
Finally, hyperpigmentation of scars can be improved with at-home Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads to help reduce active PIH and melanin deposition.

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Timothy Osborn, MD · Answer

I would definitely let that heal as much as you can. Do not pick at it and try using bacitracin or ointment to keep it clean. Once that has happened, I would recommend laser treatments for the hyperpigmentation left behind. Microneedling is also a procedure to help scars, such as acne scars, but that might be too intense for that area right now. Potentially in the future, you could use medical grade chemical peels performed by a professional to help overall skin tone and acne marks.

21 year old female performed TCA Cross using cotton bud on ice pick scars - will it stay like this? (Photo)

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21 year old female performed TCA Cross using cotton bud on ice pick scars - will it stay like this? (Photo)

Answers (2)

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Everything you need to know about Scar Removal

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