A January 2026 randomized, investigator-blinded, split-face trial found topical vitamin C, vitamin E and ferulic acid serum improved recovery after ablative fractional CO2 laser for atrophic acne scars. For people with icepick scars — narrow, deep V-shaped pits extending into the dermis — the practical meaning is faster, less-red, less-pigmented healing, not elimination of the deep pits. Fractional CO2 treatment uses tiny columns of ablative laser energy to trigger skin remodeling. The trial applied an antioxidant serum immediately after that controlled injury on one side of the face, with saline on the other side for direct 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 the 2026 trial actually tested
- What improved on the serum-treated side
- Why icepick scars respond differently
- What to do if icepick pits dominate
What the 2026 trial actually tested
Adults aged 18 to 50 with moderate-to-severe atrophic acne scars were enrolled during December 2020-January 2021, with severity graded by investigators using the ECCA scar scale, as reported by HCPLive in its summary of the study. Each participant received the same ablative fractional CO2 treatment on both sides, then CE Ferulic serum on one side and normal saline on the other.
The design controls for individual healing differences because each person serves as their own comparison. The January 2026 report in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology describes the intervention as vitamin C, vitamin E and ferulic acid serum after laser, according to the PubMed study record.
What improved on the serum-treated side
The CE Ferulic side showed enhanced wound healing, reduced redness and lower melanin levels than saline. Skin hydration and barrier function were also better maintained, pointing to less post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Those outcomes matter most during the first healing weeks, when redness, dryness, crusting and dark marks shape downtime. The recovery comparison is detailed in the full study text published by PubMed Central.
Why icepick scars respond differently
Icepick scars are narrow, deep V-shaped pits, distinct from broader boxcar scars and wide, sloping rolling scars. Their depth and narrow opening limit how much surface remodeling can lift or smooth them.
In fractional CO2 studies, rolling scars respond best while icepick pitted scars respond least, so laser resurfacing alone often leaves predominantly icepick scarring visibly pitted. That pattern is described in a Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology review of fractional CO2 as monotherapy for atrophic scars.
What to do if icepick pits dominate
Expect the serum step to support recovery quality rather than replace scar-specific treatment. Deep pits usually still need methods that reach or remove the narrow tract, often in combination with resurfacing.
The 2026 trial was registered as ChiCTR2300078214, funded by L'Oreal, with serum supplied by SkinCeuticals Inc. Bring photos showing your scars in angled daylight to help the clinician map pit depth and width.
- Ask whether your scars are mainly icepick, boxcar, rolling or mixed
- Ask whether TCA CROSS, punch excision or another focal method fits the deepest pits
- Ask how laser, focal treatment and aftercare would be sequenced
- Mention pigmentation history, since post-laser dark marks drive aftercare choices
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