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TCA CROSS for Acne Scars (And Lupus Discoid Scars), at Home

UPDATED FROM mariafrancesca
3 months post

1 month after my 3rd TCA CROSS

$40
This last cross is taking longer to heal, especially the biggest scars, but I post this before/after pic just to show that one out of my 3 deep icepick scars is finally closing (the upper one, which was also the smallest one, but it was deep). Yé!! FI.NA.LLY! The other 2 are taking their time to heal properly, they are still large and red (but probably shallower though), so I will postpone my next cross to give it time to heal, and it is summer, I found that the downtime was bad with much more social activities. I'm thinking that I'll probably need 2-4 more TCA treatments, and then I'll have to think about other treatments to further the improvements as I find that my skin is still bad with its mix of big pores, wrinkles and depressed scars and overall texture. I'll probably think about some professional dermarolling treatments, or do some TCA peels at home, still researching what might be best. For now, I'll enjoy this latest disappearance of at least one of my scar, it's one more that I don't have to try to fill with primer (just ask me how I feel about primer and make-up ;-)

mariafrancesca's provider

Myself

Replies (5)

that's great ! when my son is off accutane we will definitely try this thank you for sharing
Patience is key, but it definitely works for me!
I tried tca cross on 4 scars only and I am so glad I did it. Unfortunatelly 2 scars on my forehead filled in 50% and turned white and other 2 on my cheecks did not fill in at all after 1 month. So I have deeper hole on the place of boxscar. Seems like you have better results. I just would like to say that everyone who would like to try this method better trey it on 1-3 scars first and see how it goes. I hoped a lot for tca cross but I did not work out for me.
I agree with you, doing some test patches is important, sad that it didn't had the effect you expected. I know that some of my smaller scars/holes haven't really filled but I don't know why, but some others did, and some I am still waiting for some healing/fillings after more than 5 weeks. Anyway, much luck to you.
Your scars look great! I'm getting a test tca cross done by my doctor next week ! This gives me great hope. What did you use on your scars right after treatment? Did you keep them moist or let them be? Also I was wondering do u think it's okay to use concealer to cover the scabs?
Hi, I put on some Aquaphor/Eucerin cream the first days, as I've heard it's better to keep them moist. And for the concealer, I try not to put any for the first 24hrs at least, but to be frank, when I do so, it just looks very strange and messy. The worst days to go out for me are when the scabs starts forming and until they fall off, I'd say day 3-4 to 7, that's when I find that concealer is not much help. (Oh and you should ask your doc about any preparation cream that you can take some weeks/days before the cross, I find that I have a lot of enduring redness after a cross (few weeks) and I think it would have help to use some prescription cream, I might have read that tretinoid or Retin-A can be used for that). Best of luck!
How long did take for the red marks go away? I've done 2 months ago and still red. I started using some hydrocortisone 2,5 % and got a bit better. Any advice? Thanks
Hi, Thank you for sharing!! How many percent did you use?
UPDATED FROM mariafrancesca
2 months post

Update - 3 weeks after the 2nd TCA cross

Just to say that I'm almost 3 weeks after my second cross and I definitely see improvements, especially on my 3 aligned and much more visible icepick scars, it is really encouraging as I literally see them closing slowly everyday. They were really deep so I'm sure I'll need some more treatments, my next one will be in a week. I went more heavy on them when I crossed, and as usual right after the scabs fell off they looked bigger and deeper, to the point where I wondered if I hadn't made things worse. I uploaded a picture, it is not so good so I'm not sure if it'll be visible, but when I need to go out, I find them much more easy to cover with primer, something I couldn't really do before. Very pleased!

Replies (3)

They look much improved my poor 16 year son has scarred terrible so we will be trying this after he gets off Accutane
Oh poor him! I really see some great improvements with this treatment now-3 weeks after the 2nd one, and I'm thinking as your son is young he'll probably heal faster and better, so much luck to him! I'll continue to follow-up here. (I've also been on Accutane many years ago and it helped a lot.)
thank you for your review I will be following you
thanks!
How is going now Maria ?
Going fine, thanks, will do another treatment probably next week, need more work still, biggest pores/scars haven't closed yet

Definitely some improvement -- happy for you!

Thanks Eva!
your results look so good! you have inspired me to try
Thanks, and much luck to you!
UPDATED FROM mariafrancesca
1 month post

DAY 3RD post TCA cross

Just a quick update to show how it looks today, 3 day after I did my second-more agressive- TCA cross. It is starting to dry today, scabs are slowly forming. As I went more aggressive this time, the forming scabs look bigger, last time I had a lot of flaky skin falling off instead of scabs. The full TCA application I did on my upper lips is starting to peel a little bit. I just wash my face at morning and night, and apply vitamin C serum, that's pretty much it. Hoping all the scabs will be off at around day 8.

Replies (5)

I can't wait to see your results :)
me too! Will follow-up ;)
nice! you only have just a few icepick scars, looks like you wont need to perform too many more crosses, and it's crazy to really see the results within a months time and your'e all healed the results will be even greater!!
Thanks, appreciated support!
It gives me hope that I can fix mine ... After I fix my mess up Now lol
what % are you using ?
50%, I even put a thin layer of 50% on my upper lips as I seem to have thick skin there, and it seems to be healing well, peeling a lot today.
You're looking great! And look at that pink baby skin peeking through. Good for you. Yay!
Thanks-don't we love that baby skin ;)
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