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. 2020 May 10;11(3):349-354.
doi: 10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_370_19. eCollection 2020 May-Jun.

A Randomized Study to Evaluate the Efficacy Fractional CO2Laser, Microneedling and Platelet Rich Plasma in Post-Acne Scarring

T Pooja  1 , K V T Gopal  1 , T Narayana Rao  1 , B Gayatri Devi  1 , S Ashwin Kumar  1
Affiliations

A Randomized Study to Evaluate the Efficacy Fractional CO2Laser, Microneedling and Platelet Rich Plasma in Post-Acne Scarring

T Pooja et al. Indian Dermatol Online J. .

Abstract

Background: Acne scarring commonly seen in young adults causes marked psychological distress. Commonly used procedural treatments for post-acne scarring have limited efficacy. This prospective, randomized study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy and adverse effects offractional CO2 laser, microneedling, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in post-acne scarring.

Materials and methods: Sixty clinically diagnosed cases of post-acne scarring of both sexes were enrolled and divided into three groups of 20 patients each. The severity of scarring was graded as per the qualitative and quantitative grading system proposed by Goodman and Baron. Group A, B, and C patients were treated with fractional CO2 laser, microneedling, and PRP,respectively, at monthly intervals for foursessions. Improve men tin quantitative and qualitative grades of scars and adverse effects were noted at each session and 1 month after the final sitting. Statistical analysis was done using Student 't' test for quantitative values and Chi square test for qualitative values.

Results: At the end of foursessions, based on mean percentage of improvement in quantitative grade, the efficacy of fractional CO2 laser is significantly greater than that of PRP (P = 0.00), while CO2 laser and microneedling did not show significant difference (P = 0.106). Based on qualitative scores, fractional CO2 laser group showed statistically higher therapeutic efficacy compared to microneedling and PRP (P = 0.00).No significant adverse effects were encountered in any groups.

Conclusion: Fractional CO2 laser resurfacing is more efficacious than microneedling and PRP. Unsatisfactory results were obtained with PRP as monotherapy in post-acne scarring.

Keywords: Fractional CO2 laser; microneedling; platelet-rich plasma; post acne scaring.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) Grade 3 acne scars (b) improvement in acne scars from grade 3 to grade 2 after four sessions of fractional CO2 laser treatment
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) Grade 3 acne scars (b) improvement in acne scars from grade 3 to grade 2 after four sessions of microneedling treatment
Figure 3
Figure 3
(a) Grade 3 acne scars (b) improvement in acne scars from grade 3 to grade 2 after four sessions of PRP treatment
Figure 4
Figure 4
Adverse effects seen following fractional CO2 laser treatment (a) transient post-inflammatory hyperpigmentaion (b) transient erythema and edema
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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