Is there a topical solution to acne scars?

May 15, 2006 7:29 PM

Is there a topical solution to acne scars?

I have some acne scars on my face, shoulders and back. Do any of the topical products out there actually work? I'd really rather not go the microdermabrasion route (http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/18980). Thanks!

posted by wolfkult to Health & Fitness (10 answers total)

Retin-A can do a little work on very light ones. I have had microdermabrasion, vita-peels (not hte kind that take half your face off-- the lighter ones), I have used Retin-A and Retin-A Micro. Any deep or wide marks will not be removed by Retin-A, but lighter and fainter ones will, after prolonged use.
posted by oflinkey at 7:47 PM on May 15, 2006

Forget the 'micro' abrasion. Go full out with a pumice based cleaner like fast orange or lava soap.

IAND
(Note: This comment is not entirely based on reality, however, this particular method was suggested to my brother for facial acne and had excellent results. For the acne that is, with scars: YMMV. It does remove skin, oil and most other things rather well, however.)
posted by IronLizard at 11:38 PM on May 15, 2006

I've had several people suggest a product called Dermarest Moisturizing Scar Remover, but I haven't had a chance to get any yet. It's not specifically for acne scars (and may not help much if the scars are "pit" types), but the people who suggested it to me said that it helped minimize some heavy acne scarring and skin discoloration and that lighter scars were seriously diminished. in appearance. I'm looking forward to trying it myself, but have had problems locating a drug store that has it in stock.
posted by Orb at 12:24 AM on May 16, 2006

If you have any pink spider scars left over, those can be removed by a dermatologist with a device that I believe is some kind of Tesla coil. I'm prone to those.
More modern docs use a laser, and it sounds like the sort of thing you'd do if you ever won the lottery, kind of expensive, and not covered by insurance.
My doc got about a dozen of them this way, on a 20$ co-pay for the office visit. It stings a little, but livable, and they just go away.
If you don't have the spiders, never mind.
posted by unrepentanthippie at 5:54 AM on May 16, 2006

You may want to go to Sephora and talk to a skincare specialist about the various products available. You don't have to buy anything right away, just ask for samples and try stuff out to make sure it doesn't upset your skin. If you aren't near one, you could call the closest one to consult someone and then purchase online (they have a generous return policy if you don't like what you bought). Are your scars like scars where you have indentations, or leftover red marks that won't go away? That would seemingly make a big difference in what people recommend both online and off. Also, do you have a dermatologist? If so, just ask your doctor.

I have a few leftover red marks and been using Dr. Perricone Concentrated Restorative Cream, but the salesguy who supposedly used to have horrible acne and scars (who looked beautiful by the way) recommended Vinoperfect from Caudalie. Basically, anything with vitamin c will help lighten your marks and something with hydroquinone i think will lighten too. But I am not an expert. Go talk to one.
posted by ml98tu at 6:00 AM on May 16, 2006

Everybody is different - but from what I heard in my pharmacy school class on nonprescription therepeutics, Mederma actually works for a lot of people.
posted by selfmedicating at 7:26 AM on May 16, 2006

Johnson & Johnson sells something called 'Tissue Oil' that is proven for getting rid of scars. I don't know how it would be for these particular scars. I hear it touted mostly for clearing stretch marks. I applied it twice to an elbow that had gotten a sore callus, and it fixed that real quick, so wheatever else, the stuff is special.
posted by Goofyy at 7:38 AM on May 16, 2006

It depends how long you've had scars, how bad they are are and whether they're the keloid kind or not. There's no harm (apart from financial) in trying most OTC solutions but really, the only thing that worked for me was surgical laser resurfacing (money saving tip, I got mine at very low cost by agreeing to be a before/after model for the dermatologist). Retina A can do some work, but do you really plan to never go out in the sun again? Products like Vitamin E treatments and Mederma are meant to be used on new, light scars and are at best only slightly effective on ones over a year old.
posted by methylsalicylate at 8:18 AM on May 16, 2006

I was prescribed Stievamycin for my acne. I was thrilled with the results and found that it took away most of the scarring - you may want to give it a shot. I started with the mild, then after about 3 months moved to the strong formula. It took about 6-7 months to notice the absence of scarring.
posted by meerkatty at 8:32 AM on May 16, 2006

Moisturizers/exfoliants with glycolic acid.

The glycolic acid helps cellular regeneration - and the exfoliation helps stimulate cell growth. Glycolic acid is also sometimes recommended to speed up getting rid of dark pigmentation from bacterial skin infections.
posted by porpoise at 4:31 PM on May 16, 2006