A comparative study of efficacy of resurfacing with fractional carbon dioxide laser versus derma roller in the treatment of post acne scars

Authors

  • Francis Abel Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Navodaya Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Raichur, Karnataka, India
  • Kallappa Herakal Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Navodaya Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Raichur, Karnataka, India
  • Nikhita Shetty Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Navodaya Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Raichur, Karnataka, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2455-4529.IntJResDermatol20203074

Keywords:

Derma roller therapy, Micro-needling, Acne-scars, Carbon dioxide laser, Fractional laser, Ablative laser

Abstract

Background: Acne vulgaris is a chronic skin disease which can present as non-inflammatory lesions, inflammatory lesions, or a mixture of both, resulting in distressing and difficult to treat scars. The objective of this study is to compare the efficacy of fractional carbon dioxide (CO2) laser technique (FCLT) versus derma roller therapy (DT) with respect to post-acne scars and to study their respective side effects.

Methods: A total of 200 patients of post acne scars were enrolled for this study from the outpatient Department of   Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Navodaya Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Raichur. The patients were randomly allocated into two groups of 100 patients each in which one group was treated with derma roller therapy and the other group was treated with fractional CO2 laser every 4 weeks over a period of 24 weeks each.

Results: In the derma roller group, 89 patients completed the treatment with 11 drop out cases.  The percentage reduction in the mean objective scores was found to be 37.63%. In the fractional CO2 laser group, 93 patients completed the treatment with 7 drop out cases. The percentage reduction in mean objective scores was found to be 41.22%.

Conclusions: Comparing the efficacy of derma roller therapy and fractional CO2laser resurfacing method in the treatment of post acne scars, both the modalities were found to be equally efficacious.

References

Tan AU, Schlosser BJ, Paller AS. A review of diagnosis and treatment of acne in adult female patients. Int J Womens Dermatol. 2017;4:56-71.

Wolfram D, Tzankov A, Pulzl P, Katzer PH. Hypertrophic scars and keloids: a review of their pathophysiology, risk factors, and therapeutic management. Dermatol Surg. 2009;35:171-81.

Cowin AJ, Brosnan MP, Holmes TM, Ferguson MWJ. Endogenous inflammatory response to dermal wound healing in the fetal and adult mouse. Dev Dyn. 1998; 212:385-93.

Goodman G. Post acne scarring: a review. J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2003;5:77-95.

Sadick NS, Palmisano L. Case study involving use of injectable poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) for acne scars. J Dermatolog Treat. 2009;20:302-7.

Kravvas G, Niaimi AF. A systematic review of treatments for acne scarring. Part 1: Non-energy-based techniques. Scars, burns and healing. 2017;3:2059513117695312.

Gozali MV, Zhou B. Effective treatments of atrophic acne scars. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2015;8:33-40.

Goodman GJ, Baron JA. Postacne scarring: a qualitative global scarring grading system. Dermatologic surg. 2006;32(12).

Stem R. The prevalence of acne on the basis of physical examination. J Am Academy Dermatology. 1992;26:931-35.

Reich A, Jasiuk B. Acne vulgaris: what teenagers think. Dermatol Nursing. 2007;19(1):49-64.

Adityan B, Thappa DM. Profile of acne vulgaris: a hospital-based study from South India. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2009;75:272-8.

Chien IC, Chou YJ, Lin CH, Bih SH, Chou P. Prevalence of psychiatric disorders among National Health Insurance enrolees in Taiwan. Psychiatric Services. 2004;55:691-7.

Uhlenhake E, Yentzer BA, Feldman SR. Acne vulgaris and depression: a retrospective examination. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2010;9:59-63.

Saoji VV, Ganoje MM. Comparative study of fractional carbon dioxide laser and derma roller in atrophic facial acne scars. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322363012_comparative_study_of_fractional_co2_laser_and_dermaroller_in_the_treatment_of_atrophic_facial_acne_scars. Accessed on 10 June 2019.

Downloads

Published

2020-08-26

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles