If you have boxcar scars and plan fractional CO2 laser, a January 2026 trial points to faster healing and less redness and darkening when vitamin C plus E plus ferulic acid serum is used right after the procedure. Boxcar scars are broad, sharp-edged depressions left by collagen loss, and the benefit applies to them as part of atrophic scars.
PubMed lists the study as a randomized, investigator-blinded, split-face trial published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology the PubMed record. The trial put CE Ferulic serum on one side of the face and normal saline on the other after the same ablative laser treatment. It enrolled 66 patients with moderate-to-severe atrophic scars, divided into once-daily and twice-daily groups for paired comparison.
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 did the researchers test?
- What healed better on the serum side?
- What does this mean for boxcar scars?
- How should you use this result?
What did the researchers test?
The study tested short-term aftercare, not a new scar cream for daily use. Both sides received ablative fractional CO2 resurfacing.
Only one side then received the antioxidant serum. The enrolled group was a Chinese cohort with moderate-to-severe atrophic acne scars. Boxcar scars were included under that broader atrophic-scar diagnosis rather than studied as a separate group.
What healed better on the serum side?
The serum-treated side recovered faster and showed less post-laser redness and lower melanin index, meaning less hyperpigmentation after ablative laser, according to the full trial text the full-text report in PubMed Central. Redness and brown dark spots are common concerns after resurfacing, especially for pigment-prone skin.
Barrier function also held up better with serum. That side had better hydration and lower transepidermal water loss than saline. That matters because barrier disruption raises risk of infection and prolonged redness after ablative treatment.
What does this mean for boxcar scars?
Boxcar scars respond to fractional CO2 because the laser softens sharp scar edges and triggers new collagen. A clinical review reports the approach works especially for boxcar and rolling types, typically over 2-3 sessions the DermaVue clinical review.
For people with boxcar scars, the serum does not fill depressions itself. Its role is to support the wound window created by the laser. Less inflammation, better moisture retention, and less pigment change can make recovery smoother while collagen remodeling begins.
How should you use this result?
Treat this as promising aftercare evidence with narrow limits. The design was single-center and split-face, with a modest sample and short follow-up.
The authors call for wider research on CE Ferulic serum beyond this setting. If you are booking CO2 resurfacing, practical steps help:.
- Bring the trial to your consultation and ask if short-term CE Ferulic fits your skin type and pigment risk.
- Confirm timing, frequency, and duration, since the trial tested once-daily and twice-daily short-term use after the procedure.
- Clarify sun protection, moisturizer, and warning signs for infection or persistent redness.
- Do not buy the serum as a standalone fix for indented boxcar scars, because the trial supports post-procedure healing rather than filling scars alone.
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