How Your Skin Heals After Scar Treatment
When you do scar treatments like laser, TCA CROSS, or microneedling, your skin goes through a natural healing and remodelling journey. Here’s what to expect step by step:
Timeline of Healing After Scar Treatment (Laser, TCA CROSS, etc.)
Day 1 – Day 3: Fresh Wound
- The skin appears red, raw, and sometimes slightly wet. 
- Mild swelling, stinging, or oozing can happen. 
 👉 Focus: Keep skin moist with ointment, avoid sun, and no harsh products.
Day 3 – Day 7: Scab Stage
- A thin brown scab or crust forms. 
- Skin feels tight, itchy, and fragile. 
- Scars may appear larger or more pronounced → this is simply the scab sitting on top (an illusion only). 
 👉 Focus: Let the scab fall off naturally, don’t scratch or peel.
Week 2: New Skin Appears
- Scabs start falling off, fresh pink/red skin underneath. 
- Skin feels sensitive to the sun and skincare. 
- Scars may look sharper or bigger → this happens because the old scar wall is breaking down, the new skin is thin, and collagen hasn’t filled in yet. 
 👉 Focus: Use barrier cream, start sunscreen, and add gentle brightening cream.
Weeks 3 – 4: Early Remodelling
- Pink skin slowly turns closer to your normal tone. 
- Some people may see temporary dark spots (PIH), especially in Asian skin. 
- Collagen activity begins under the surface. 
 👉 Focus: Sun protection + pigmentation control.
Weeks 5 – 6: Active Remodelling
- Redness and dark marks fade further. 
- Collagen keeps building, scars start looking shallower and smoother. 
 👉 Focus: Gentle actives can be increased if tolerated.
Weeks 6 – 8: Stronger Skin
- Skin is more resilient, less sensitive. 
- Scars look softer and smoother as collagen fills in. 
- Best time to plan your next scar treatment (usually every 6–8 weeks). 
 👉 Focus: Maintenance skincare, protect results with sunscreen.
💡 Key Reminder
Scars often look worse before they look better.
Real results take weeks to months as collagen slowly builds.
Every session adds up — so patience is the secret to smoother skin.
✨ Collagen supplements or collagen-rich foods may support healing, but results vary and they’re not a magic fix. Want to know what really works for your skin? 👉 Ask your doctor at Klinik Dr. Diana.
