afkaik
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Today we will talk about all the methods to eliminate acne scarring, this shit is what is holding past acne-cels from the effects of either steroids or chad androgens in puberty with poor skin. Most of them are well tested, and i am personally planning at least 12 of the ones in here. with only a few making life changing results (procedures) when combined, over a long(er) period of time.
Introduction
Acne scars are permanent changes in the skin that occur after severe acne lesions heal. They form when the skin’s natural healing process is disrupted, leading to excess or insufficient collagen formation.
Remember you need to first eliminate acne to start these procedures
Dogshit methods
- At home methods
- OTC masks
- DIY chemical peels at high concentrations
Water methods
Shouldn't even be mentioned if you're serious about having clear skin
Others
WARNING
The most effective thing to do is obviously to COMBINE and tailor them with a licensed dermatologist, however if that is not the option, here's how to tailor your acne scar procedures and plan them accordingly
Conclusion:
If you're serious about deleting this subhuman trait from your skin you will need a lotta $$$ and planning along with some consultations with dermatologists to plan out your timelines to completely eliminate scarring. And ill be honest, you can only get 90% of the look your skin had before acne, unfortunately. There might always be a tiny bit of scarring there, but it is infinitely better than having 80% worse skin.
I am not a medical professional and all my postings, including comments or conversations are purely comedic and satire.
Introduction
What Are Acne Scars?
Acne scars are permanent changes in the skin that occur after severe acne lesions heal. They form when the skin’s natural healing process is disrupted, leading to excess or insufficient collagen formation.
Why Are Acne Scars Generated?
Acne scars develop due to damage in the deeper layers of the skin (dermis) during acne inflammation. Key factors include:- Severe inflammation: Cystic or nodular acne is more likely to damage collagen.
- Delayed healing: Slow or impaired skin repair can lead to abnormal collagen formation
- Genetics: Some people are predisposed to keloid or hypertrophic scars because of subhuman genes, specifically:
Collagen / Extracellular Matrix (delayed healing)
- COL1A1
- COL1A2
- COL3A1
- MMP1
- MMP2
- MMP3
- MMP9
- TIMP1 (Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases)
- Immune Response genes
- TNF-α (TNF gene)
- IL1A
- IL1B
- IL6
- TGF-β1 (TGFB1)
- Hormonal / Androgen Pathway (jfl at dhtmaxxers) (me
) - AR
- CYP17A1
- SRD5A1 (5-alpha reductase type 1)
- SRD5A2 (5-alpha reductase type 2)
- Other
- FGF2 (Fibroblast Growth Factor 2)
- EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor)
- VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor)
- Skin picking or squeezing: Its over for you, damages your skin barrier intensely (guilty of this)
- Infection or poor wound care: Can worsen the inflammatory response.
What Type of Acne Scars Do You Have?
Check with a mirror:
(The hypertrophic ones are usually a bit less severe with less redness and seen more in the body/neck area where androgen sensitivity is a bit different than in the face)
1. Depressed (Atrophic) Scars
- Rolling scars: Wavy, shallow indentations caused by fibrous tissue pulling skin down.
- Boxcar scars: Broad, sharply defined depressions with steep edges.
- Icepick scars: Narrow, deep, pitted scars that extend into the dermis.
2. Raised Scars (Hypertrophic / Keloid)
- Thickened or elevated scars caused by excess collagen formation.
- Often occur on the chest, back, or jawline.
3. Post-Inflammatory Pigmentation (Fake scarring)
- Dark red, brown, or purple marks left after acne heals.
- Not true scars, but may persist for months and affect appearance.
- Depressed scars → indentations or pits.
- Raised scars → thick bumps.
- Pigmented scars →discolored patches.
Remember you need to first eliminate acne to start these procedures
Dogshit methods
- At home methods
- OTC masks
- DIY chemical peels at high concentrations
Water methods
Shouldn't even be mentioned if you're serious about having clear skin
| Treatment | How it Works | Effectiveness | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retinoids (Tretinoin, Adapalene, Tazarotene, Trifarotene) | Increase cell turnover, promote collagen | ★★☆☆☆ | Best for mild scars, long-term use required, if short term, dont cope about it and start the procedures in the lifefuel section) |
| Silicone gels/sheets | Hydrate and flatten scars | ★★☆☆☆ | Works better for raised scars (hypertrophic/keloid (won't do much for keloids lol) |
| Vitamin C (topical) | Brightens scars, promotes collagen | ★★☆☆☆ | Good for hyperpigmentation, not deep scars |
| Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) | Exfoliate skin surface | ★★☆☆☆ | Improves texture slightly; best with other treatments, mandelic, lactic, or glycolic acid depending on skin type. |
| Chemical peels (mild at-home peels) | Remove dead skin layers | ★★☆☆☆ | Over-the-counter peels have limited effect on deep scars |
| Not having any acne | Water | ★★★★★ | Scarring WILL get worse if you haven't done a round of retinoids/accutane and eliminated acne entirely, and is a prerequirement to most treatments that are highly effective. Just for that reason 5/5 |
| GHK-Cu (Copper Peptide) Injections | Collagen stimulation by up to 25+% | ★★☆☆☆ | Just use with microneedling nigga, there is a possibility topical ghk-cu does work well in microneedling (mesotherapy) but just to be sure pin it. |
Depressed (Atrophic) Scars
| Treatment | How it Works | Effectiveness | Notes | Risk / Precautions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subcision | Breaks fibrotic bands under scar | ★★★★☆ | Excellent for rolling scars; often combined with fillers; procedure looks absolutely fucking atrocious and medieval torture-esque. (i wouldn't recommend fillers personally) | Bruising, swelling, temporary soreness; rare hematoma or infection |
| Microneedling Alone (Water) | Stimulates collagen production | ★★★★½ | Best for rolling and shallow boxcar scars, best done with PRP. DO NOT do standard microneedling with those shitty rollers, use medical grade stamps like they're like 50$ USD, cmon. | Redness, mild swelling, PIH (post-inflammatory-hyperpigmentation) in darker skin; infection risk if not sterile |
| Microneedling + PRP | Enhanced collagen stimulation and healing | ★★★★★ | Another holy grail. 4.8/10 but for some people its 5/5 | Mild redness/swelling, bruising, infection risk from blood prep |
| Dermal Fillers | Fills depressed scars | ★★★★☆ | Immediate effect; temporary (6–18 months), will never recommend but its up to you. | Lumpiness, Tyndall effect, rare infection or vascular occlusion |
| Punch Excision / Punch Graft | Surgically removes icepick scars | ★★★★☆ | Best for deep, isolated icepick scars | Scar at donor site, infection, downtime, potential PIH |
| Fractional CO2 Laser | Resurfaces skin, stimulates collagen | ★★★★★ | Very effective for rolling/boxcar scars; downtime 7–10 days, holy grail. | Redness, swelling, crusting; PIH risk in darker skin; prolonged downtime |
| Erbium:YAG Laser | Mild resurfacing | ★★★☆☆ | Less downtime; less effective for deep scars | Mild redness, swelling; lower PIH risk than CO2 |
| Non-ablative Fractional Laser (Fraxel) | Collagen remodeling without ablation | ★★★★☆ | Multiple sessions required | Mild redness, swelling; rare PIH; multiple sessions needed |
| Chemical Peels (TCA medium-depth, Jessner, Phenol) | Remove epidermis & stimulate collagen | ★★★☆☆ | Effective for shallow/moderate scars | Redness, peeling, PIH, infection if post-care neglected |
| Fractional Pico (Picosecond Laser) | Ultra-short pulses delivered fractionally → shatter pigment and stimulate collagen | ★★★★☆ | Minimal thermal damage; lower downtime; multiple sessions; good for rolling/boxcar scars | Mild redness, swelling, bruising; rare PIH; multiple sessions required |
Raised (Hypertrophic / Keloid) Scars
| Treatment | How it Works | Effectiveness | Notes | Risk / Precautions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steroid Injections (Triamcinolone) | Reduce collagen, flatten scars | ★★★★☆ | Mainstay for raised scars; may require multiple sessions | Skin atrophy, hypopigmentation, telangiectasia, pain at injection site |
| Silicone Sheets / Gels | Hydrate and flatten scars | ★★☆☆☆ | Useful for prevention and mild hypertrophic scars | Minimal; skin irritation rare; compliance needed |
| Cryotherapy | Freezes and flattens raised scars | ★★★☆☆ | Often combined with steroid injections | Pain, blistering, hypopigmentation, recurrence possible |
| Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL) | Reduces redness, some remodeling | ★★★☆☆ | Works well for inflamed scars | Mild redness/bruising, PIH rare, multiple sessions needed |
| Surgery / Excision | Direct removal of keloid | ★★★★☆ | Reserved for severe or persistent cases | Recurrence possible, infection, significant downtime, PIH |
| TGF-β1 / other fibrosis-modifying approaches | Experimental / emerging | ★★★☆☆ | Not standard yet | Unknown long-term risks; limited clinical data |
Hyperpigmentation
| Treatment | How it Works | Effectiveness | Notes | Risk / Precautions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topical Vitamin C | Antioxidant, inhibits melanin formation | ★★☆☆☆ | Good for red/brown discoloration; mild effect; not structural | Mild irritation, stinging, possible allergic reaction |
| Hydroquinone (2–4%) | Inhibits melanin production | ★★★★☆ | Gold standard for PIH; use short-term (max 12 weeks) to avoid ochronosis | Irritation, redness, ochronosis if prolonged use, sun sensitivity |
| Azelaic Acid | Inhibits tyrosinase, reduces inflammation | ★★★★☆ | Effective for darker skin; also helps mild acne | Mild irritation, dryness, rare redness |
| Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) | Reduces melanin transfer to epidermis | ★★★☆☆ | Safe, mild lightening; often combined with other topicals | Minimal; well tolerated |
| Chemical Peels (superficial to medium) | Exfoliate pigmented layers | ★★★★☆ | Multiple sessions improve color; works best on epidermal pigmentation | Redness, peeling, PIH especially in darker skin; infection if post-care neglected |
| Laser (PDL, Q-switched Nd:YAG) | Targets melanin or vascular components | ★★★★☆ | Effective for stubborn discoloration; multiple sessions; risk of rebound hyperpigmentation in darker skin | Redness, swelling, PIH, rare blistering; multiple sessions required |
| Microdermabrasion | Surface exfoliation | ★★☆☆☆ | Superficial exfoliation; temporary effect | Mild redness, temporary dryness; very low risk |
| Combination Therapy (topical + peel/laser) | Synergistic effect | ★★★★★ | Often most effective for persistent or mixed hyperpigmentation | Risks combine based on components used; follow post-care strictly |
| Fractional Pico (Picosecond Laser) | Targets pigment via ultra-short pulses, stimulates collagen | ★★★★☆ | Effective for red/brown PIH, melasma, and sun spots; low downtime; multiple sessions needed | Mild redness, swelling, bruising; rare PIH; multiple sessions needed |
Others
| Treatment | How it Works | Effectiveness | Notes | Risk / Precautions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triamcinolone Acetonide Injection | Reduces collagen synthesis; flattens hypertrophic/keloid scars | ★★★★☆ | Most commonly used steroid; effective for large or thick scars; repeat every 4–6 weeks | Skin atrophy, hypopigmentation, telangiectasia, pain/bruising; avoid injecting normal skin |
| Methylprednisolone Acetate Injection | Reduces collagen synthesis; flattens hypertrophic/keloid scars | ★★★☆☆ | Slightly less potent than triamcinolone; sometimes used for smaller or facial scars | Skin thinning, hypopigmentation, pain; multiple sessions may be needed |
| Hydrocortisone Injection | Reduces collagen synthesis; flattens mild hypertrophic scars | ★★☆☆☆ | Weakest intralesional steroid; mainly used for sensitive areas | Minimal flattening; risk of atrophy is lower; repeat sessions may be needed |
| Cryotherapy | Freezes and flattens raised scars | ★★★☆☆ | Often combined with steroid injections; effective for small keloids | Pain, blistering, hypopigmentation, recurrence possible |
| PRP Alone | Growth factors promote healing and collagen remodeling | ★★★★☆ | Can improve scar texture and pliability; often combined with microneedling or lasers | Mild redness, swelling, bruising; infection risk if blood handling is improper, though unlikely. |
WARNING
Depressed Scar Treatments That Could Worsen Raised Scars
| Treatment | How It Can Worsen Raised Scars | Risk Level / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Subcision | Trauma from breaking fibrotic bands can stimulate excess collagen, potentially triggering hypertrophic/keloid scars in predisposed skin | Moderate risk; avoid in areas prone to keloids without prophylactic measures (steroids, silicone) |
| Microneedling / Microneedling + PRP | Creates controlled injury → collagen stimulation; in keloid-prone patients this can lead to scar thickening | Low–moderate risk; safer on normal skin; avoid deep microneedling over existing raised scars |
| Fractional CO2 / Erbium / Pico Lasers | Thermal injury stimulates collagen remodeling; in hypertrophic-prone skin, can cause scar hypertrophy or PIH | Moderate risk in darker skin / keloid-prone individuals; start with lower settings or test patch |
| Punch Excision / Grafting (if done near hypertrophic areas) | Surgical trauma can induce keloid formation at donor or adjacent sites | Moderate; prophylactic steroid injection recommended |
| Deep Chemical Peels / Medium TCA | Inflammatory response can trigger keloid formation in predisposed skin | Low–moderate; avoid aggressive peeling on keloid-prone areas |
Raised Scar Treatments That Could Worsen Depressed Scars
| Treatment | How It Can Worsen Depressed Scars | Risk Level / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Steroid Injections (Triamcinolone, Methylprednisolone, Hydrocortisone) | Over-flattening or atrophy if injected too close to depressed scars can exacerbate contour irregularities, making adjacent depressed scars look deeper | Moderate risk; avoid injecting too close to areas with rolling or boxcar scars |
| Cryotherapy | Freezing adjacent skin can damage normal tissue, potentially creating new shallow depressions around the treated raised scar | Low–moderate risk; careful shielding needed |
| Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL) | Aggressive laser treatment to flatten red/keloid scars may cause localized tissue contraction, highlighting nearby depressed scars | Low risk; usually mild effect, more cosmetic than structural |
| Surgical Excision of Keloids / Hypertrophic Scars | Removing a raised scar creates a tissue defect; tension or healing may cause adjacent depressed contour irregularities | Moderate risk; sometimes requires grafts or careful flap planning |
| Silicone Sheets / Gels | Rarely, over-compression on uneven skin may accentuate very shallow depressions | Very veery low risk; mostly cosmetic effect |
An example of a protocol above for reducing scars with those considerations in mind
| Phase | Target | Treatments | Interval / Downtime | Combination Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 – Raised Scar Control (Prevent worsening) | Hypertrophic/Keloid scars | Steroid injections (Triamcinolone), Silicone sheets, Cryotherapy if you have moderate hypertrophic | Steroids: every 4–6 weeks; silicone: daily, always. | Avoid trauma-based depressed scar treatments directly over active raised scars until reduced |
| Phase 2 – Collagen Remodeling for Depressed Scars | Rolling/Boxcar/Icepick | Subcision, Microneedling + PRP, Fractional CO2 / Pico / Erbium laser | Subcision: 1 session per scar or area; Microneedling: 4–6 weeks between sessions; Fractional lasers: 6–8 weeks | Do not combine deep lasers and subcision on same day; microneedling has to combined with PRP in same session for max effect |
| Phase 3 – Volume Correction / Deep Depressed Scars | Deep boxcar or icepick scars | Punch excision / graft | Wait 1–2 weeks after Phase 2 for skin healing | Consider fillers for areas where subcision + collagen remodeling is insufficient |
| Phase 4 – Hyperpigmentation | PIH, sun damage, red/brown marks | Hydroquinone, Azelaic acid, Niacinamide, Chemical peels (superficial/medium), Fractional Pico / Q-switched / PDL lasers | Chemical peels: 3–6 weeks apart; laser: every 4–6 weeks; topical: daily | Avoid combining medium-depth peels with lasers same week; stagger by 2–3 weeks; start topicals first if severe PIH |
| Phase 5 – Maintenance & Prevention | All scar types | Silicone sheets, Sun protection SPF 30+, Mild topicals | Daily | Maintain improvements and prevent recurrence of raised scars or PIH |
The most effective thing to do is obviously to COMBINE and tailor them with a licensed dermatologist, however if that is not the option, here's how to tailor your acne scar procedures and plan them accordingly
What Not to Combine
- Aggressive lasers + deep subcision → high risk of bleeding, delayed healing. Just wait a bit brocel.
- Multiple deep chemical peels + lasers same week → high PIH risk.
- Steroid injections + laser on same scar same day → may impair healing or increase atrophy risk.
- Microneedling + aggressive peels → irritation and PIH in darker skin types
- If you're on roids depending on your skin thickness you may wanna avoid if too thick;
- Microneedling or superficial lasers may be less effective; energy may not penetrate deep enough.
- Aggressive subcision can be difficult because fibrotic bands are denser.
- High-dose fractional CO2 or Erbium lasers may be needed, but risk of overheating tissue, prolonged swelling, or delayed healing is higher
If too thin:
- Characteristics: Fragile dermis, less collagen, more prone to tearing, bruising, and atrophy.
- Risks / Considerations:
- Deep lasers, aggressive subcision, or strong chemical peels can tear or scar the skin, cause prolonged redness, or trigger atrophic areas.
- Fillers or deep injections may be more likely to cause irregularities or Tyndall effect because skin doesn’t cushion them well.
- Microneedling with long needles or repeated aggressive sessions may increase PIH risk or damage thin dermis.
- Recommendation:
- Use milder microneedling, superficial peels, and low-energy lasers.
- Stagger sessions with longer healing intervals (6–8 weeks) to allow thin skin to recover.
- Avoid combining multiple high-trauma procedures in a single session.
Spacing Guidelines
- Microneedling / PRP: every 4–6 weeks.
- Fractional CO2 laser: 6–8 weeks between sessions.
- Steroid injections: 4–6 weeks apart.
- Chemical peels: 3–6 weeks depending on depth.
- Fillers: wait at least 1–2 weeks after resurfacing procedure
- Wait at LEAST 3 months before starting procedures after accutane.
Conclusion:
If you're serious about deleting this subhuman trait from your skin you will need a lotta $$$ and planning along with some consultations with dermatologists to plan out your timelines to completely eliminate scarring. And ill be honest, you can only get 90% of the look your skin had before acne, unfortunately. There might always be a tiny bit of scarring there, but it is infinitely better than having 80% worse skin.
I am not a medical professional and all my postings, including comments or conversations are purely comedic and satire.
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