Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Ferulic Acid After Acne Scar Laser in 2026: What the Trial Means for People With Rolling Acne Scars

A January 2026 split-face trial showed vitamin C, vitamin E and ferulic acid serum improved healing after ablative fractional CO2 laser for atrophic acne scars. For people with rolling scars, the benefit was calmer, better-hydrated healing skin in the first two weeks, not instant scar removal. Rolling scars are wide, wavy dips that look undulant and stretch flatter when pulled. The trial put serum on one side of the face and saline on the other, so each person served as their own control.

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.

What did the trial test?
How much difference did the serum make?
Why does rolling shape matter?
What should readers not assume?
How should people with rolling scars use this result?

What did the trial test?

Shi, Xu and Zhang ran a January 2026 randomized, investigator-blinded, split-face trial. It tested CE Ferulic against normal saline after ablative fractional CO2 laser, according to the full trial text in NIH PubMed Central. The study enrolled Chinese patients aged 18 to 50 with moderate-to-severe atrophic acne scars.

Each participant received serum on one cheek and saline on the other cheek. Treated skin received CE Ferulic right after laser and for 14 days. Follow-up visits compared healing, redness, pigmentation, hydration and barrier water loss.

How much difference did the serum make?

Treated skin had lower redness and melanin scores than saline-treated skin at days 3, 7 and 14. All six checks reached P less than .0001, according to ConsultantLive reporting of the trial. By day 14, treated skin also held more water and lost less water.

Hydration reached P equals .0367 and water loss reached P equals .0246. The PubMed abstract concludes the serum sped wound healing, lowered redness and melanin, and raised hydration. It supports pairing the serum with laser to speed recovery.

Why does rolling shape matter?

Rolling scars are wide, undulant, distensible dips tethered by dermal fibers. They flatten partly under stretch, according to Dermatology Times clinical guidance. Fractional CO2 laser improves rolling and shallow boxcar scars.

It responds poorly to narrow, deep icepick scars. So a rolling scar is a better laser match than an icepick scar. Shape still sets the ceiling for smoothing from resurfacing alone.

What should readers not assume?

The study was industry-supported by L'Oreal with serum supplied by SkinCeuticals, as stated in the NIH PubMed Central funding disclosure. It was the first such split-face trial in a Chinese cohort and tracked only 14-day healing endpoints. Short healing measures do not prove long-term scar remodeling.

Results may differ by skin tone, age, scar mix, laser settings and sun exposure. CE Ferulic looked like a recovery aid in this setting. It did not prove a stand-alone cure for tethered rolling scars.

How should people with rolling scars use this result?

Treat the serum as post-laser aftercare rather than scar remodeling alone. Durable improvement usually takes 2 to 4 laser sessions and often added release such as subcision plus sun protection, according to the Candela Medical practitioner review. Bring a list of past pigment problems, retinoid use and sun habits to that visit.

Ask your dermatologist whether antioxidant aftercare fits your laser plan and pigment risk
Plan for a course of care, not one session, with photo checks between visits
Protect healing skin from sun and pick, since friction and UV worsen dark marks