In 2026, a split-face trial enrolled 64 Chinese adults aged 18–50 with moderate-to-severe atrophic facial acne scars after ablative fractional CO2 laser. People with mainly boxcar scars were included only inside that pooled group, not as a separate boxcar group. Boxcar scars are broad pits with sharp edges and flat bases. The CE Ferulic cheek side healed faster with lower redness and pigment measures and better hydration over 14 days, as reported in the NIH/PubMed abstract.
Medical information disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a physician or other qualified health professional about symptoms, medications, tests, or treatment decisions.
Table of Contents
- What was put on the skin?
- What changed in the first 14 days?
- Do the results cover boxcar scars specifically?
- Who was not studied and what should you ask?
What was put on the skin?
The tested serum combines 15% pure vitamin C as L-ascorbic acid, 1% vitamin E as alpha tocopherol, and 0.5% ferulic acid, as described on the SkinCeuticals official product page. That patented ratio is designed to stabilize vitamins C and E.
Investigators applied CE Ferulic to one cheek side and normal saline to the other for 14 days after laser. The design was randomized and investigator-blinded, as reported in the NIH/PubMed Central trial report. Each patient served as their own comparison.
What changed in the first 14 days?
Compared with saline, the CE Ferulic side showed faster wound healing and lower erythema and melanin indices. Skin hydration and barrier maintenance were also better on the antioxidant side.
An earlier photodamage study points to rapid calming as one mechanism. Antioxidant-treated laser lesions showed less edema and redness by days 3–7 and higher basic fibroblast growth factor at day 5 versus vehicle, according to the L'Oréal Dermatological Beauty hosted Waibel full text. That study treated photodamage, not acne scars.
Do the results cover boxcar scars specifically?
No boxcar-only result was reported. The 2026 trial did not separate outcomes for boxcar versus rolling or icepick subtypes, according to the Wiley/Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology paper.
Readers with mostly boxcar scars were therefore studied only as part of pooled atrophic scars. Practically, treat the finding as short-term post-laser recovery and pigment control over 14 days. It is not proof of long-term boxcar depth remodeling, according to the ConsultantLive summary of Zhang et al.
Who was not studied and what should you ask?
The 64-patient cohort did not include several common reader groups, according to the Medical Dialogues summary of eligibility. Check whether any item applies before assuming the result fits you.
The earlier support trial also has narrow scope. It tested the same antioxidant mix in only 15 healthy adults aged 30–55 treated for photodamage, according to the MedicalXpress/HealthDay report of Waibel et al. Bring your scar mix, age, skin history, and current products to your laser operator and confirm post-procedure use.
- Younger than 18 or older than 50
- Mild scars or flat color marks only, without depressed scars
- Active acne, skin infection, or wound at treatment time
- Keloid tendency
- Pregnancy or lactation
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