Microneedling as a Treatment for Acne Scarring: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND Microneedling is a popular, minimally invasive skin rejuvenation modality for acne scarring. Recent reports have evaluated the efficacy and safety of microneedling monotherapy and combination treatment for scarring. OBJECTIVE This review aims to systematically analyze the current literature on microneedling techniques used for acne scarring. METHODS A PubMed search (2009–current) was used to identify literature on microneedling treatment for acne. All randomized and nonrandomized clinical trials, case cohorts, case reports, and case series were included with the exception of 2 studies, which were excluded due to unavailability. RESULTS All 33 articles evaluated showed improvement of acne scar appearance after microneedling treatment. Evidence was inconsistent when comparing microneedling monotherapy to dual therapy or to fractional laser treatment. CONCLUSION Microneedling improves acne scarring, and further studies are needed to compare microneedling with other minimally invasive treatments.