Like OTC products, natural remedies aren't strong enough to treat ice pick scars alone. Certain products — such as honey, rosehip oil, and witch hazel — may decrease discoloration and improve overall skin texture, but they won't be able to get rid of the leftover deep pits that make up these types of scars.
Laser resurfacing is a common treatment for scars, including deep ice pick scars. The procedure involves using a laser to remove layers of skin. This stimulates the production of collagen and elastin (another protein) as the skin layers regrow. This treatment requires multiple sessions, typically about a month apart.
These injuries usually heal within two days and new collagen is formed inside of the scar. Collagen is a protein that help gives our skin strength and elasticity. As the new collagen forms it reduces the scar's depth.
The Causes
Skin and the tissue beneath it are damaged by outbreaks of acne because the breakouts penetrate the skin deeply. Your body tries to repair the damage by producing collagen. When too little collagen is produced, ice pick scars develop and leave behind noticeable pits or depressions in the skin.
Bio Oil works the same on all types of acne scars and other indented scars. Pockmarks, ice pick scars, rolling scars, or boxcar scars can be used with Bio-Oil.
Treatment options for Ice Pick scars include punch excision and this can be an option with a broad price range, as you might pay between $500 and $1000 per individual scar.
Conclusions: This study shows that there is no benefit to the cosmetic outcome of scars by applying vitamin E after skin surgery and that the application of topical vitamin E may actually be detrimental to the cosmetic appearance of a scar.
Dermatologists typically recommend punch grafting for deeper ice pick scars. The procedure involves removing the skin from the scar and replacing it with a skin graft. The dermatologist takes this skin from another part of the person's body, such from behind the ear.
If you are looking for an affordable and save concealment solution, Dermaflage is a topical filler that can conceal ice pick scars.
Retinol: Your best bet, according to Dr. Maiman, is to choose active ingredients known to stimulate collagen production, like retinol, to reverse the collagen deficiency that creates the appearance of those scars.
For acne scarring, the most commonly recommended chemical peeling agent is glycolic acid. This has been proven to provide optimal results when used to treat atrophic acne scarring, reducing the differences in profile between the scarred area and the surrounding tissue.
The pitted scars are particularly troublesome. Not only can they require a variety of treatments, but they can also take quite a while to fade. And, in some cases, they'll never disappear completely.
When you pick the skin around your nails, the skin will heal in a few days without leaving any permanent damage. If you have been repeatedly picking at one scab however, there are chances it could leave a permanent scarring.
So, does microneedling help with ice pick scars? In general, the answer is yes – microneedling may be an effective treatment for ice pick scars. In fact, in a study published in the Indian Journal of Dermatology, microneedling was found to be more effective than pulsed laser therapy for the treatment of ice pick scars.
The fatty acids in coconut oil work like antioxidants and because of the moisture, it helps fade the appearance of scars. The Vitamin E it contains stimulates cell turnover rate, which results in collagen build-up for healing purposes. If applied, your skin becomes stronger and improves texture as well.
To help the injured skin heal, use petroleum jelly to keep the wound moist. Petroleum jelly prevents the wound from drying out and forming a scab; wounds with scabs take longer to heal. This will also help prevent a scar from getting too large, deep or itchy.
The exfoliating properties of baking soda help get rid of scars. Put two teaspoons of baking soda in a bowl and keep adding a little bit of water and mix till the consistency is that of a paste. Apply the paste to the scars and massage it. After 10 to 15 minutes, wash it off with warm water.
Deeper scars like an ice pick and boxcar scars, for example, cannot be treated with microdermabrasion, as they penetrate below the epidermis and cannot be reached with this surface-level procedure.
Chemical peels Chemical peels are a common treatment for pitted scars. The peeling process involves destroying the damaged layer of skin by applying chemicals to the surface of the skin. The chemical solution causes the skin to peel off, creating a fresh layer underneath.