In 2026, Wiley reports researchers studied 64 Chinese adults aged 18-50 with moderate-to-severe facial atrophic acne scars after ablative fractional CO2 laser. Icepick scars — narrow, deep V-shaped pits — were pooled with other scar types, so pure icepick disease was not proven to benefit separately. The Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology report lists 15% vitamin C, 1% vitamin E and 0.5% ferulic acid versus saline for 14 days. Readers with mainly narrow deep pits need icepick-specific advice alongside any laser plan.
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
- Who was in the 2026 trial
- What changed on the treated side
- Why icepick scars need a different plan
- Who else was left out and what to ask
Who was in the 2026 trial
Wiley describes 64 Chinese adults aged 18-50 with moderate-to-severe facial atrophic scars defined by ECCA scores in the Wiley trial record. The design was randomized, investigator-blinded and split-face.
Each participant had one ablative fractional CO2 laser session, then serum on one side and saline on the other for 14 days. The serum was 15% vitamin C, 1% vitamin E and 0.5% ferulic acid. The findings therefore fit adults like those enrolled and a short two-week post-laser window.
What changed on the treated side
Medical Dialogues, reporting Shi et al., found faster wound healing on the C-E-ferulic side in the Medical Dialogues report. The same side showed lower erythema and melanin measures.
Skin hydration and barrier function were better preserved than on the saline side. For readers, that points to less lingering redness and darkening after laser and less post-procedure dryness. The PubMed abstract reports these as overall atrophic-scar outcomes, not results by scar shape.
Why icepick scars need a different plan
The PubMed abstract did not publish separate efficacy for icepick versus boxcar versus rolling subtypes. ConsultantLive notes narrow deep tracts stayed pooled with other atrophic scars rather than analyzed alone.
Dermatology Times, in Harmon's review, states icepick scars respond poorly to laser resurfacing alone because of depth and small surface area in the Dermatology Times review. Guidelines favor focal TCA CROSS or punch excision or elevation instead. A laser-plus-serum plan cannot stand in for that targeted work.
Who else was left out and what to ask
Springer describes fractional CO2 acne-scar trials as routinely excluding several groups. That leaves those groups without direct C-E-ferulic post-laser data.
Practical Dermatology frames C-E-ferulic as a possible post-laser healing aid, not a substitute for icepick-directed punch or CROSS care. Ask a dermatologist whether your scars are mainly icepick, whether laser fits now, and whether CROSS, punch excision or elevation should come first.
- active acne
- keloid or hypertrophic-scarring history
- recent isotretinoin use
- pregnancy or lactation
- impaired healing
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