The January 2026 trial studied 64 adults ages 18–50 with moderate-to-severe atrophic facial acne scars. It did not study people with purely rolling scars as a separate group. Atrophic scars are depressed scars left after acne heals.
Rolling scars are one subtype, alongside icepick and boxcar scars. The trial tested a vitamin C, vitamin E and ferulic acid serum after ablative fractional CO2 laser. That laser removes tiny columns of skin to trigger repair.
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
- How the serum was tested after laser
- Who was enrolled in the study
- Why rolling scars have no separate answer
- What to discuss before using this aftercare
How the serum was tested after laser
Shi, Xu and Zhang ran a randomized, investigator-blinded, split-face trial. Each participant put CE Ferulic serum on one cheek and normal saline on the other cheek each day for 14 days right after laser. Each person served as their own control.
The CE Ferulic-treated side healed faster than the saline side. It also showed lower redness and pigment readings and better-kept hydration and barrier function. The full text from Wiley/Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology via PMC reports the healing and barrier results for the treated cheek versus saline.
Who was enrolled in the study
ConsultantLive reporting on Shi et al. describes the 64-adult study group ages 18–50 with moderate-to-severe atrophic facial scars.
Treatment occurred from December 2020 to January 2021 in a Chinese cohort. The PubMed abstract record lists registration ChiCTR2300078214 and names CE Ferulic, ablative fractional CO2 laser and atrophic scars as keywords. That match confirms the exact product, procedure and scar group tested.
Why rolling scars have no separate answer
Atrophic scars fall into icepick, boxcar and rolling types. Rolling scars are wider 4–5 mm undulating scars tethered by fibrous bands. A scar-classification review in Dermatology and Therapy details these scar subtypes.
An Archyde summary of Shi et al. notes the trial reported atrophic scars as one group. It published no separate outcomes for rolling scars. Readers with only rolling scars therefore have no subtype-specific result to use.
What to discuss before using this aftercare
An earlier retrospective chart review by Waibel et al. found immediate serum use after ablative fractional laser caused no linked complications.
The authors warned against extending that finding to delayed use or other formulas. Ask your dermatologist to map your scar mix before assuming the trial fits you. Bring photos of past redness or dark marks after procedures, plus a list of vitamin C products that irritated you.
- scar types present: rolling only, mixed rolling plus boxcar or icepick, and severity
- laser plan: device, settings, expected downtime and pigment risk
- aftercare plan: exact product, start time, length of use and signs to report
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