This month’s ‘Ask the Readers’ question is about whether or not it’s actually possible to heal deep acne scars naturally – like ice pick, box car, or rolling scars (submit your own question here).
Kyla writes:
Is it possible to heal ice pick and boxcar scars naturally?
I can’t help but feel a but hopeless about them, because so far the answers that I have gotten are “you’re stuck with ’em, sorry” or “do this scary chemical/surgery thingy that may or may not work and leave you with more scarring.”
So friends… has acne left you with deep scarring? If so, have you found anything that has actually worked for you to get rid of them or at least lessened their appearance significantly?
Please share in the comments below!
94 Responses
I would be interested to know the answer to this question too. I hope that this thread turns into an interesting discussion. I have all types of acne scars since almost 8 years ( I am in my twenties) and nothing really seems to heal them. In fact I haven’t even got rid of acne properly.
Especially the scars seem a lot under sunlight or blue lighting (They produce the shadowy wavy effect)
Thanks.
Hey girl! Helichrysum Oil is a wonderful help to acne scars and stretch marks! i’ve only been using it for a week and have already seen a total difference in my acne hyper pigmentation and scarring! After all it used to be a gift to the gods 🙂
I just started on the helichrysum oil,2 days in. excited. I have msm crystals too (powdered msm) I happened to buy a bunch of stuff as usual all at the same time.. the last bunch for a year didn’t work.. so in this haul I bought msm powder, rosehip oil ,helichrysum oil, estriol (life-flo estriol care) cream………and even monistat chafing gel (fills in scars,silicone dimethicone) that’s my last haul 2 days in……oh! and some liquid collagen drink…30 day supply.. hair skin nails formula….the camellia oil does seem to help…..but… when I stopped… my scar looked worse than ever..so that’s not help is it? sigh… oh and I am using my dermaroller….1.0 about 1 time in 2 weeks .. (I don’t seem to get around to using it much) none of the scarzone and mederma types worked as those are for raised and not indented.. they STOP collagen production this flattening a raised scar and we are trying to do the opposite … induce collagen..(atrophic scars) make sure whatever you research is for atrophic scars(recessed,indented) and not keloid (raised) this is for anyone who may be reading this post. never give up…. it probably looks much better than when you first got it but your eye has become more critical.
Hi….I am not sure anybody is still discussing this topic. However may help a few folks. I am from India and we get a grey seed called jeera.
{please look up english name } Grind jeera with a little water as a smooth paste and apply once a day. Do not scrub with hands. Gently wash it off. Do not scrub.
Jeera has a whole host of minerals and it heals your scars significantly. Atleast worked for me 🙂
Hey i too m from India.wt type of scars did u have and how long did u apply
Hi Brianna , do you use the helichrysum oil
On its own or do you dilute it with water or Another oil , if you could plz tell me how much drops to use , I need to know for pitted scars and holes ,
I’m in my late 20s and have had acne ever since puberty, but for all of last year I had the most severe, cystic acne of my life. It was really awful and made me feel disfigured. Luckily, I found this website and other resources on healing acne holistically and it’s been nearly almost clear for the past 6 months (such a miracle!). At exactly this time last year, I remember looking in the mirror and being horrified because I started seeing depressed and ice pick scars in my skin. Fortunately, over time….VEERRYY slowly….my skin has evened out. 90% of the depressed scars I noticed last year are now gone. The leftover red marks have actually lasted a lot longer for me. So, if your scars are fairly young, they might fill themselves back in. What I’ve been using over the past few months that has seemed to help my skin regenerate itself is a DIY Vitamin C serum. You can google it and tons of stuff will come up. There’s a great thread on Reddit about it. Certain forms of Vitamin C have been shown scientifically to not only help clear up acne but to also increase your skin’s production of collagen, which helps with scars naturally filling back in. Another thing I just found out about and started alternating in with the Vitamin C serum is Rose Hip Seed Oil. I haven’t found nearly as much scientific literature on it, but tons of people claim that it helps with healing scars, and after a few days use it does definitely make my skin feel more moisturized and supple. So that’s something else you might want to research. Hope that helps and best of luck!!
Rose hip seed oil and Vitamin C serum are what I’ve been using, and they’ve been doing wonders for my skin. My scarring is almost gone. Good luck!
Seed or fruit oil? Or both? I have both. And how much, how often worked for you? 🙂
Do you use them together or do you alternate every so often. I’m 45 & had clear skin up until about 5 years ago. Started getting cystic acne & now I have pitted scars that make me so self conscious I don’t even like going out in fear I’ll run into someone I haven’t seen in a while. I feel like peep are looking at my scars & not me as a person.
Aw i know what its like. My acne finally went in my 20s so i started loojing after my skin rejuvenation colegen with serums dermal roller. But now at 31 im going through early menapause n my old scars that hadnt fully gone but looked good covering have all reruptured n the worst is a large ice pick scar on the middle ov my chin. I hate seing every1. I just want to hide in my room most time.s i want it surgically removed n stiched. Nothing fills it. I wil try silicone gel tomorrow. I hope it helps me for now so i can dare do a school run. Iv not been out my house in 10 wks. since my daughter age 4 asked me y i have a hole in my chin :-(.
I’ve been wanting to get the rosehip oil for quite some time. Does it feel oily on the skin?
Also, I’ve read that vitamin C goes bad quite quickly and when the serum or whatever turns orange it means it has oxidized and no longer works. How long do the DIY versions last?
The rose hip oil doesn’t feel oily if you don’t use too much. Just make sure you only use a small amount and that you rub it in. It should make your skin feel supple, not oily.
The Vitamin C does oxidize very fast, so what I do is I just keep the powder in my bathroom and every few days I’ll sprinkle some into a spray bottle, just eyeballing it, add some water, and then spritz it on my face. You can tell when the Vitamin C is still effective because it will make your skin feel a little tingly. Don’t use too much, though, because then the tingle will turn into a burning sensation, I know from experience. Even though you have to make a new batch frequently, I still think it’s worth it. I definitely notice a difference in my skin when I use it.
Thank you, I will search where I can get the vitamin C powder 🙂
I am facing really different problem,pits are forming on my face without any pimples and they are widening,I do get pimples may be 1 or 2 during my puberty times,within 15 days on my cheeks atleast 10-20 pits have formed ,can anyone pls help me out
Hi, I experienced the same thing from shea moisture black soap, and using apple cider vinger on my face. Be very mindful of what you’re apply to you face.
Which powder do you use?! I’m in need of help asap!!
Dear BRIANNA is it helpful to clear Boxcar scars pleasing suggest me tips am waiting eagerly to take tips to clear my scars. Help me out.
Hey I’m 21 years old. I have scarring because of threading my face. How long did it take for you to notice a difference?
There is this girl on youtube that improved her skin so much with the dermaroller. When i am all healed of my acne i will def.try it. here is the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQMdcR1f3p8
I actually ordered derma rollers on ebay, way cheaper, but the thing is – my acne isn’t completely cleared, I don’t want to mess things up by trying to go around pimples, what if there’s something forming underneath and I tear it and it becomes worse.
However, at first I did try it on my forhead when I didn’t have any active acne there for some time, it’s not that painful. But I can’t speak for the results, since I didn’t use it long and often enough.
There was a post here quite a bit ago about msm cream, and that has been the best thing I’ve come across. I use a msm soap & it’s amazing. I wish I had got it as soon as I read the post. My skin has always healed slowly, and my mom has the same issue, low collagen. I think msm helps collagen production, which would explain why it works so well.
What product is it you use?
Hi, do you know any alternatives to MSM, because MSM isn’t available in Hawaii for me.
yea I like the at last naturals msm soap…
I just had to add a comment to this because I had really great skin all my life up until I turned 18. I ended up getting about 3 or so cystic pimples on either side of my face, on both cheeks, that had left indentations. It took about 7 – 8 months of just consistently using honey and a lemon sugar scrub but my scars DID heal and I do have an even surface now. I just have a few red spots left but the improvement is is noticeable and satisfying. I went through this twice over 3 years so I can say that for myself, natural remedies have worked but it’s truly all about consistency and knowing what works for your skin.
Can you share your recipes and how often you used? I feel this would work for my skin but want to be careful I know the instructions first, as in the past sometimes i irritated my skin by using too much of something or scrubbing too long etc. Thank you =)
Hi! I started getting deep cystic acne in my early 20’s all over my cheeks. I picked relentlessly and was left with insane amounts of scarring; the hard hit areas were pretty much unrecognizable. One day, like a year and a half ago I stopped using traditional acne products and face washes and decided to switch to simpler products. I wash my face once a day (at night) with black African soap and MSM powder (I also drink a tablespoon of the powder in water twice a day) and moisturize after washing with a moringa, jojoba, tea tree and patchouli oil mix which helps my severely dry and acne prone skin. Anyhoo, what I do with the face washing worked wonders. I wet my face and lather up my hands, then pour about a teaspoon of MSM powders into the lather and rub that all over my face, focusing on my cheeks. Sometimes I spend as long as a minute massaging the MSM into the areas where the most scarring is located. Before I knew it (it may have been 6 months, but time flies, so it felt quick) I noticed a dramatic decrease in scarring. My cheeks are not perfect and likely never will be without dermatological intervention, but this fits into my life and makes a large enough difference for me to be incredibly happy with the results. Also, it is worth noting that this regimen doesn’t keep my face quite as clear as retin A and bp did, but by skin is endlessly more elastic and glowy and youthful and the acne I do get now bothers me less and goes away quickly. I hope this helps, and also, with exception of the oils which can get spendy, it’s pretty cheap; a $18 canister of MSM powder from Sprouts and a $4 bar of African soap lasts upwards of a year!
Hi Alex,
Can you tell me which brand of black African soap you use and where do you buy it? I’ve been looking on Amazon, but I haven’t found anyone for that price.
Thanks.
Hi Andrea!
The kind I use is just a bar soap, by Nubian Heritage. They make a few different products in this vein, I use the one that is African black soap with oats, aloe and vitamin E. It is not quite as simple as I’d prefer a product to be because my face skin is just insanely picky, but it leaves my normally excruciatingly dry face feeling normal, so I’ll count that as a win. I listed the ingredients below.
Ingredients: 100% Vegetable Soap: African black soap base, coconut oil and/or palm oil, butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), avena sativa (oat) kernel meal, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, plantain extract, tocopherol (vitamin E), vegetable glycerin, mineral pigment or vegetable color, essential oil blend.
I am not sure if there are Sprouts grocery stores where you are located, but that’s where I get mine. I am pretty sure any healthier grocery chain would carry it; Whole Foods probably does, but I’ve never checked. It is also available at places like drugstore.com and the like. Either way, I sincerely recommend this soap, I can’t foresee myself making a switch to something else anytime soon. Again, my face skin is an ultra diva and prone to rashes, swelling, itchiness, flaking, peeling, acne, random oiliness… you name it… and this soap helps keep it happy and calm.
I hope this helps!
Alex
Hi Alex!
Thanks so much for the information!
I really want to try that soap. There are no Sprouts stores where I live, but I will ask on my local health store. And I’m going to check on websites too.
I had heard before about the wonderful properties of black African soap, so I can’t wait to try it! 😉
Thanks again!.
Andrea you can order The Nubian black soap in internet shop http://www.iherb.com/Nubian-Heritage-African-Black-Soap-Bar-5-oz-141-g/11242?rcode=VUG786 ( code gives you discunt $5) .
I noticed you said you were using one that had vitamin E, if you see more breakouts then it could be because of the E thats in the soap it can be pore clogging, thanks for your tips it helped me, I am having the same issue
Do you use a toner after cleansing, and do you also wash in mornings with something else?
If you want to get rid of your acne completely, supplement daily with a probiotic like Inner Eco, Garden of Life Raw probiotic, Dr. Mercola, or Dr. Axe’s. I prefer the Inner Eco, as it has the highest bacterial count and high strain diversity. The reason it’s good to take a probiotic is because the bad bacteria that cause acne get taken out by the probiotics (good bacteria). I suffered with acne relentlessly until I started on probiotics. I haven’t gotten a single pimple since! Not even during my period 🙂 You gotta attack acne and scars from the inside out and you will expedite healing. I also do collagen protein, bone broth, and a greens supplement. Has done WONDERS on my skin! Blessings
I wish that $4 African black soap lasted me a year! lol I have to buy a new one every week or two… which is why I am always out.. its Nubian heritage the one everyone recommends and its HUGE but disappears quick! I only use it on my face and its gone in a week or two everytime.
I keep it dry in dish.
oh well
I have exactly the same problem, so this question comes right appropriate for me. I have lot of scarring and also some hyperpigmentation under my eyes, which are the last trace of years of very agressive acne.
Although I managed to heal them considerably with some natural treatments, I can’t completely clear them up 🙁
What natural treatments did you use?
I used masks of Manuka honey with lemon, which really improved my acne in general and faded away most of my scars, but not completely. Aubrey Organics aloe vera also helped. I hardly have acne right now, just some pimples that appear once in a while. But the scars are still there.
Then I tried the MSM cream, which I discovered through an old post here, a product that was working for some people. But that cream gave me acne, so I stopped using it after one week. I don’t know. Maybe I should have stuck with the MSM cream for longer, cause perhaps the acne I got was a first reaction to the cream, and the good results would have appeared after two or three weeks.
I also used tamanu oil, but as it clogged my pores, I also stopped using it. But I think I put to much on my skin and that’s why it got so greasy.
Maybe I should give another try with the MSM cream and tamanu oil.
Although I said I have lot of scarring, it’s not deep scarring. My scars are light, but they are noticeable. They are like small holes on my cheeks and other parts of my face. I also have some redness and hyperpigmentation. That’s why I still have to wear makeup.
A lot of people here are saying that rose hip oil is very good for scarring. Do you know which brand of this type of oil is good?
there is a good quality oil from PAI skincare – i am from europe i dont know if its available where you live but i think it is one of the best on the market. here a little description :
Rosehip is the ultimate skin multi-tasker. With regular use, it conditions the skin, improving skin firmness and elasticity.
The Power of Retinol Without Irritation
High levels of Trans-Retinoic Acid are delivered directly to the epidermis, which converts to Vitamin A to boost the skin’s natural healing process.
Clinical studies show Rosehip is effective at improving the appearance of scars, stretch marks, sun damage and fine lines.
Highest Potency Rosehip
Rosehip BioRegenerate™ is unique in containing concentrated fruit hip oil, with double the regenerative sterols and five times the carotenoids of seed oil.
Premium CO2 supercritical extraction delivers the complete and concentrated properties of the plant.
This makes Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate™ far more powerful than simple cold pressed Rosehip seed oils.
30 ml.
Amazingy tip: Because of it’s (very mild) phototoxic (aka photo sensitive) properties, rosehip oil is best used during the night, or on days when you don’t go into the sun. Just to be on the safe side! Also, if you had problems using Vitamin A or Retinol in the past, you might be sensitive to the Vitamin A in Rosehip oil and we advice you to use another oil.
Thanks for all the info, Marie!
I live in Europe, so there is no problem with the availability and shipping 😉
The thing is that I had heard about this brand before, but I haven’t tried their products. After checking its website, I’ve just realized that they have very interesting stuff.
I haven’t tried Retinol nor Vitamin A directly on my skin, so I don’t know if I’m sensitive to them. But of course, I have to give a try to that oil!
Thanks!
I actually got a sample of it with ny order and was blown away at how in just one week of nihhly use of only 3 drops or so, my skin was transforming. I just ordered a whole bottle!
Great info, will look more into it, since I’m from Europe too.
that’s something I haven’t tried yet….the manuka honey… I spotted some on shelf at ross or marshalls.. where they have shelves and shelves of $20 and $30 face creams for just like $5.99.. it was in my hand… I came home and looked it up and that brand (forgot now) was $28 and rave reviews… haven’t seen it since.. its on my list then.. since ive bought every ingredient for scars and skin care in general …except that one yet… and scars give you OCD..its like you MUST buy every ingredient people mention positively…sigh…
I am 42 and just got my very first lines/wrinkles..after all this hardcore scar treatment for years youd think..I wouldn’t get wrinkles now!? makes me think I am causing them somehow too…but I am not using drying “made for acne” products that teens use.. I am using all the herbs and oils … I dunno…I wont give up.. manuka honey is good for aging skin too right? I gotta get me some. I do low dose Accutane to control the oily skin.. I believe it made me scar easier:( but I CANT STAND oily skin….
I have had significant improvement of acne scars by using a dermaroller every night and washing my face with manuka honey every morning. Look up dermaroller on youtube to see how it works. You can get them for pretty cheap off of amazon.
Hey guys very interesting topic!! I can gladly say acne isn’t a problem for me even if i do get one or two or three lol, all i had to do was get out of the way and my body heals itself to its natural state! As for SCARS I have used a derma roller 2.5mm on my skin in January – i can happily say that i had great results! My scars are just filling in lol kinda strange its fresh skin just plumping out, I’m going to do one more roll with a 2.5mm – which will get my skin back to a normal state, obviously u can see the scars if u zoom in lol. Its amazing!! You have to try it if this post resonates with you!!!!! Also keep in mind that the change u want with your scars is just a feeling of being beautiful, if u cant feel beautiful without the results that is a huge emotional barrier that will physically stop u from getting where you want to be!!
Peace & Love !!
Actually, I’ve been hoping you would broach this topic, Tracy! I even considered writing you about it. I agree about dermarollers – I personally use a dermastamp, as well as individual needles, which I purchased from the Owndoc website. I also purchased their suction pump which, when used in conjunction with the dermastamp, is supposed to help lessen the appearance of tethered scars. Additionally, I have really come to embrace acids in my skincare routine. I have a couple of peels that I ordered from the Skin Obsession website (the 25% TCA peel and the Jessner’s peel, which I have used separately and also layered together). I personally have a lot of rolling scars (and also some boxcar – no icepick, however), which are tethered – so while peels don’t do anything about the tethering, they can certainly help to create smoother skin and a better overall texture. Not only do I occasionally use the peels, but I also have incorporated BHA (mainly for blackheads) and AHA acids from Paula’s Choice into my daily routine, which just help out with redness, flaking, and overall texture. I have looked into getting ablative laser treatments and dermabrasion, but I don’t think I’m ready for those at this time (and they also cost an arm and a leg). I really think the main thing that’s important with this kind of deep acne scarring is just loving yourself and embracing yourself in spite of it (or, rather, including it). The acne was bad enough – I can’t emotionally afford to beat myself up for the residual scarring. Besides, most people I know say they really don’t notice my scars as much as I focus in on them – it always looks the worst to the person whose face is scarred (or body, or whatever the case may be). I’ve really tried to shift my perspective about my face since I broke out with very severe cystic acne in May 2012 (which, similar to Tracy’s story, was caused by some bad/unhealthy relationship stuff). These scars are not a sign of defeat or ugliness – they are a souvenir of the growth I encountered at that time, and I honestly feel stronger on the other side of it. The best thing we can do for ourselves is take care of our souls, minds, and bodies. If the self-love isn’t there, then no amount of treatment is going to make a difference. Lots of love and healing to everyone.
I am so proud of you for thinking positively 🙂 I’ve also been trying to just be okay with my skin and honestly it helps better than putting makeup on.
We have to love ourselves more and in a way be thankful for this, since acne did make me think more about my diet and lifestyle health, also made me be more emphatic, now I try to imagine myself in the place of other people before I judge them.
Have a good day! 🙂
Great attitude CP! I admire you for that 😀 You are totally right about what you say.
what is a jessners peel anyway.. why isn’t the acid named in it? oh is it two acids mixed? I am curious as ive used every other peel in the world..glycolic lactic tca,..mandelic all of them ive done.. even high % salicylic etc…
and enzyme peels too which at 42 I think those are the very best! (fruit enzymes,mushroom etc) pumpkin enzyme peels… and the one discontinued that Neostrata used to make.. a mushroom enzyme peel… was the very best.
enzyme peels go on with a slight grit and an instant WARMING sensation.. skin is peeled! but better than acids…..they are often much more $ than the home use peels… which I get on ebay etsy or amazon for just under $10 an ounce…. enzyme peels are always $25-$30 and I just cant right now..victorial principal makes one.. all the stars do in their kits… fruit acids are good for scars (remember estee lauder fruition? that worked for my scars back in my teens early 20’s) its STRONG! people think cuz its a fruit peel its not strong..it can burn your face right off lol. which is a good thing………..(for purpose intended) used correctly…
just found a cheap strong rave review enzyme peel mask its alba botanicals papaya enzyme pore-fecting mask… $4-$6 on various sites:) yay! 3 oz!!! papaya enzyme masks are $30 for 1 oz!! by other brands so this is a steal.. and reviews said it “burns” which is good and removes all dead skin cells… im gonna get it woohooooo,love fruit peels. acids have been damaging my skin! (micro tears now showing up as lines. I scar easy)
enzymes are gentler…amazon reviews are really nice and has user photos too…(one woman took a pic with it on her face)
oh and.. its $14 at walgreens and $9 at Walmart and all sorts of prices but only $4.45 at pharmapacks! and used 10% off coupon (retailmenot) and pharmapacks charged only 1.99 ship and it came to 5.99 incl ship wowwwwwwwwwwww yayayayy
Oh – and I’ve also been using Emu Oil and Rosehip oil to moisturize at night after my coconut oil/manuka honey cleansing. In the morning, I use MSM cream. I’ve also heard that helichrysum oil can work wonders, though it is quite expensive 🙂 Also started taking a powdered grass-fed collagen supplement, more recently, made by a company called Great Lakes. Gelatin would also be good.
Msm has worked wonders for me too. I had a stubborn red spot on my nose for a yr and it’s finally gone. I also use weleda regenerating pomegranate oil.
RAW FATS!
My skin health has received it’s biggest boost from eating large quantities of raw eggs, coconut oil, fresh young coconut, olive oil, olives, nuts/seeds (hemp and chia are my favorites), avocado, raw fish, fish roe, LIVER, other organ meats.
I also eat copious amounts if raw and cooked veggies, some fruit, and maybe a little honey drizzled paleo baklava.
Caveman regimen is a lifesaver.
Exercise helps.
Get enough sleep.
my scars are 95% healed, my skin is moisturized and glowing and has a beautiful sheen. I still do break out a little but it gets better every day.
I might add that I did have some serious scarring.
You used NO skincare to aid in healing the face?
haven’t tried yet but its all over the internet and intrigues me.. zero skincare..cave man.. many swear by it.. I cant imagine it………..
What type of scaring? Textured or just hyperpigmentation?
me too,eggs…pistachios cashews..kale and blueberries…
high fat high protein
avoid sugar and white flower(small amounts or not often plus balance if you do with HUGE amounts of the protein fat throughout day week if you do mess up)
Time and the right products. I know this is a natural site, but I do feel as though I need to chime in and say what has helped me. I started getting acne when I was 12 and it was mild until I was about 20. Right around that time, I started getting large, painful zits that left me horribly frustrated and I just felt UGLY. Now I know that I’m not, but at the time I was desperate. I tried every product…and made it worse. The only thing that has lessened my marks is using and AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) at night, and sometimes switching it up using a BHA (beta hydroxy acid) every few days. AHA are designed to exfoliate the surface of skin (lessening marks and scars), and BHA is designed to exfoliate the inside of pores (lessening current acne). I use Paulas Choice only because it is the only brand that is PH balanced (same Ph as skin, right around 5.5) in order to make sure that it works on your skin. If you manually change the PH of your skin, you may be asking for trouble, in the form of acne and irritated skin. That being said, it generally is not a good idea to place straight lemon juice on your face, as the PH is too acidic at 2.0 (and wont work porperly to exfoliate), but you can bring the ph closer to your skin by using a more alkaline substance such as honey or water. Lemon juice is in the group of AHAs and if mixed properly can be beneficial to scars. It is a lengthy topic but VERY easy to understand once you do proper research. I feel like I could wirte a guest post on it hah. But as any health guru will tell you, proper internal PH is essential to health, so why is external PH not discussed more thouroughly? Given time and proper care, you can lessen your scars 🙂
Right now I mainly have hyper pigmentation, which tends to fade in several months, so I’m not too stressed about it, it’s just that new hyper pigmentation forms with new pimples, so it’s not a matter of scars fading if new ones are forming.
I am using a blemish gel from Himalaya Herbals, has doesn’t have a lot of ingredients, but there are parabens in it, that’s the only downside. I do like the texture, so I suggest you do look into it, but it’s only for pigmentation.
As far as deep scars, I guess, the most popular thing right now are derma rollers, I’ve tried it, but it doesn’t go well with active acne, but if you’re over that, I suggest you look into it. It’s supposed to help with pigmentation scars too.
My scarring is very light – only a few scattered icepicks – and I consider myself damn lucky for it, because with the severity of my past acne, it really could be much, much worse. I barely notice it now because I’m just so happy to be clear and glowing. The icepicks been here for over five years at this point so I kind of doubt they’re going anywhere. I don’t like to mess much with things topically, especially natural things and oils because my skin hates them, but I recently started adding a couple tablespoons of grass-fed gelatin to my daily hot tea for a variety of reasons. If it really does boost collagen like people claim, maybe in time this will make a difference. I’ll try to remember to update back if it does.
I stared at photos of beautiful skin before bedtime 😉 that’s seriously what worked for me.
Hi esther. Do you stare at your healthy skin or the healthy skin of others? I am doing it too. Worked for me. 🙂
Hi Tracy et. al.!
I’ve been extensively studying and experimenting with healing pitted scars over the last 2 years. Today, my scars are only a fraction as deep/noticeable as they once were. My success has come from a combination of diet, enzymes, topical oils, and skin needling. I’ll be posting all my discoveries on my blog over the next year, so feel free to stop by! 🙂
Love and Light,
Desi
Hey Desi, I went and had a peek at your blog… I’m digging it. I’m into peace with the palate, and of course, nature 🙂 Let me know if you have any Love Vitamin-related posts you want me to share on social media for you
Thanks so much, Tracy! Can’t believe I missed your reply until now! (How terribly embarrassing!) I definitely will have a few Love Vitamin-related posts coming up in the future, and I’d also LOVE to maybe do a guest post. I’ll keep in touch. Stay tuned! 🙂
Love and Light,
Desi
Hi Desi,
I cked out your blog. Can you tell me where to find what seemed to work
for your scarring? Thanks!
I’m interested in this too. I thought pitted scars only healed with invasive procedures. Please share!
I am curious to know if you can use the derma roller without putting on a Vitamin C serum afterwards but drinking freshly juiced lemon juice for the Vitamin C and/or drinking MSM powder for the collagen. I am currently on my fifth month of doing the Caveman and I no longer have active acne but now, just slight pigmentation on my cheeks and I was thinking of doing the .5mm derma roller after I have exfoliated my months worth of dead skin away and then letting it heal throughout each month ad repeating. I think it can only help from this point on. Has anyone used the derma roller without putting anything on their face afterwards while still having good results?
hii i i am a female of 27 year old i have bad cystic ance. i have try everything including acctune and nothing is helping me. My skin got clear for some times when i was on acctune and now is getting back bad cystic acne .. i bought estroblock.. on amazone but i would like to stared with two tablet in the morning and 2 in the night time do u think thats too much? My hight is 4 11 and i weight 93 lbs..
Hi Natasha, is that four tablets of regular or triple strength estroblock? my recommendations is 3 of the regular per day or 2 of the triple strength (that is the most I’ve taken and I’m about the same size as you)… but people take more without problem if they need to. I advise working up to that amount that though… start with fewer tablets per day and over a few weeks work your way up.
HI TRACY ,THANK U SO MUCH MY ANSWERING MY QUESTIONYES. I REALLY HAPPY. THANK U …AND YES ITS THEY Estroblock PRO TRIPLE STRENGTH. I AM PRAYING FOR THIS PILL TO HELP ME ..I ALSO CHANGE MY EATING HABIT I AM EAT MORE FRESH FURITS AND VEGETABLES NOW I TRY TO STAY AWAY FROM ALL MEATS AND FRIES FOOD AS POSSIBLE..
Young living essential oils has a recipe called scar be gone.
Its something I am currently looking into. It involves helichrysum and about 5 other oils.
If it helps , I will be screaming from the mountain top. 🙂
So Mitsy,
Did you see any improvements? Can you provide anymore information on this
I decided the essential oils can be a wee bit drying for me at this point. I am now using honey, wheat germ oil and comfrey masks in hopes to heal the scars. If it works, I will post. However, I have been told it takes time. 3 months to change and 1 month additional for each year you have had the scars..
Hi tracy!
i had an ice pick scar and i was religiously applying msm cream on it for about a month and i wasn’t getting much improvement. my derm recommended mederma to me and so i started using mederma- my scar looks so much better (almost gone!!) in just two weeks!!!! i thought for sure i was going to have this scar for a long time but i can’t believe it’s almost gone. i’m so happy x
Heyy..i have these marks on my cheeks that look like someone has poked me with pencil all over my cheeks…
I have started using tomato pulp once everyday and glycerin with lemon twice daily…any chance it helps? Also how long will it take to clear my scars??
I would like to try the dermaroller. Which size should I start with?
plz suggest me something…my icepick scars are about 2 years old…i dnt wanna go for any surgery…looks like i m stuck with it forever…tried herbins argan oil, sweet almond oil but all in vain…dunno what’s gonna work for me..
So I have read a lot of posts here, is there any updates on anything that worked that anyone tried to heal ice pick scars?
Can anyone recommend a brand of MSM and Rosehip Oil? I have pitted scars and my dermatologist recommended fraxel. I was all gun-ho about it until I read some pretty negative reviews and I am afraid to waste the time and money and endure a ton of pain/discomfort if it isn’t necessary. I have done Accutane twice and I would recommend this to anyone who suffers from severe cystic acne.. it cleared my skin completely and did help with lighting some of the scars but I still have a few pitted ones.. I can’t tell you how much time I have wasted on topical creams that did absolutely NOTHING for me.. but anyway, if anyone can recommend a brand, I appreciate it 🙂
I’ve been using holistic apothecary rosehip oil fount on etsy. The main thing is that you want to make sure the oil is unrefined/organic. I have also used 10% sulfur ointment (MSM) from pomada de Azufre which has no bad additives.
Guys.. I am light acne scars.. And very few pitted…. Has anyone heard about dermalmd scar serum … I researched alot and found the reviews great for acne scars… It consists of helychrysm oil,aloevera and many other things..
Hi I have ice Pick scars.Its been 8Yrs now..I have tried lot of ointments home remedies but nothing has helped.I have a very sensitive skin.Can u suggest any remedy to get rid of ice pick scars naturally.I dont want to undergo any procedure.
Hi Tracy,
I’ve been on a roller coaster with break outs for over a year now, and I’m just desperate for some solutions/ advice! The acne was brought on my some birth control pills my DR prescribed, and after everything I’ve been through to get to this point I’m still left with darks marks- which I’m assuming are scars. I get blemishes still, but not many and not often. I can deal with a pimple or two every couple of weeks. What I’m having trouble dealing with is the scarring that riddles my cheek/ jaw area. It has significantly lightened since October, and I’ve been treating my skin very well by adopting the ‘less is more’ mantra. The things I’ve been using for skin healing are: Organic Aloe Vera gel, a concoction of Aloe Vera, Tea Tree Oil, Myyrh Oil, and Avocado Oil (directions from your site!), as well as switching body wash/ face wash to pure castile soap for sensitive skin by Dr. Bronner’s. I also do the occasional papaya mask with very little ACV.
Basically, I just want to know if there is something I’m doing wrong? Or if there’s something else that would help combat the scars, and leave my face looking clear and beautiful again?
I would appreciate any useful tips/ tricks.. and even an approximate guess at the length of time I should expect, before flawless skin again?
Thanks for your wisdom!
Kayla xx
PS. My scars don’t seem to be deep, as they don’t really look like ‘indents’ in my skin.. more of a ‘colour pigmentation’ problem I guess?
Hi everybody! I’ve been through the acne-scars treatment call Dr.Dermic. That’s what a memorable memory to me. Wish I would know about your post before. Thank you for sharing!
I recently came across a study on the effect of combination of retinoic acid and glycolic acid daily and the results seem promising. For anyone who is interested, the link is https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4375771/
They are using topical Retinoic Acid 0.025% and Glycolic Acid 12% in the study and they say, “At the end of 12 weeks, significant improvement in acne scars was noticed in 91.4% of the patients”. The before after pictures are really good.
I am planning to start this.
Hi I’m new to this , is it a retinioic acid 0.025% , cream or peel ? And the Glycolic acid 12% is it a peel or cream ? Also can you use face cleaners which have retinoic acid and Glycolic acid in ?
I think it’s Retin-A cream and Glyco A cream which you get in medical shops. Both are acids, It may be cream or gel. won’t make a difference. I am only using normal cleanser nothing with acids. I also started only couple days back. My skin is getting really smooth.
Retin a is what worsened my scars to begin with. The only thing that gives my scars a more smooth appearance and prevents me from breaking out more is avoiding Dairy, gluten, or processed foods. Eat a diet high in vitamins and minerals..so lots of veggies and some fruit. Cut back on any meat. Drink a lot of water. Also, quit wearing makeup if you do! The healthier diet cleared my acne like 90%..the rest was from getting rid of the makeup. I wish someone told me all of this when I first started experiencing acne. Good luck!
I am a vegetarian since birth and I always eat a lot of fruits and veggies, I had acne in my teens and don’t have acne for the past decade but I have scars which are “indented” not hyperpigmentation. Diet has no effect on my scars. I have been using Retin-A for the past couple of days and my skin is already feeling smooth and I am kicking myself about why I did not try it earlier.I suppose different people, different skin texture.