Microneedling (Dermapen) and Jessner's solution peeling in treatment of atrophic acne scars: a comparative randomized clinical study.

Background

Atrophic acne scarring is a permanent complication of acne vulgaris. It has a high prevalence and significant impact on the quality of life. We compared between the efficacy and safety of microneedling (dermapen) and superficial chemical peeling by Jessner's solution for treatment of atrophic acne scars. Materials/

Methods

Sixty patients who had atrophic acne scars were divided randomizely into three groups. Group Ι included 20 patients and were treated with dermapen, group ΙΙ included 20 patients and were treated with Jessner's solution peeling, and group ΙΙΙ included 20 patients and were treated with dermapen and Jessner's solution. Clinical assessment of patients was done according to Goodman and Baron scarring global quantitative grading system before and after the end of treatment.

Results

There was a significant clinical improvement of acne scars in group ΙIΙ than in group Ι and group ΙΙ, and boxcar scars showed the best clinical improvement in all studied groups. There was statistically negative correlation between the degree of improvement of acne scars and duration of lesions and age of patients.

Conclusions

The combined technique (dermapen and Jessner's solution peeling) showed the best clinical improvement with the least number of sessions followed by the microneedling technique and lastly the jessner's solution peeling for treating atrophic acne scars.