MICRONEEDLING AND GLYCOLIC ACID PEEL FOR TREATMENT OF ACNE SCAR; COMPARATIVE STUDY

Background: Atrophic acne scars are common and undesirable outcome of acne vulgaris related toboth its severity and delay in treatment. Such scars can be classified according to the depth and shapeof the collagen loss: ice pick, boxcar, or rolling. Many options are available for treatment of acne scarssuch as: laser surgery, radiofrequency intervention, chemical peels, chemical reconstruction of skinscars (cross technique), dermabrasion, needling, subcision, punch techniques, fat transplantation, andother tissue augmenting agents.Objective: The aim of this study was to compare between GA peelmonotherapy and microneedling with dermapen monotherapy in treatment of acne scars. Moreover,combined treatment of GA peel and microneedling with dermapen is compared to each of the abovemonotherapies in treatment of acne scars.Methods: Thirty patients of both sexes (10 men and 20women) with age ranged from 19-45 years old with different types of atrophic acne scars were enrolledin the study. Patients were randomly divided into three groups: Group I: Included ten patients (4 malesand 6 females) aged 27 - 45 years. They had microneedling with dermapen for treatment of the scars.Group II: Included ten patients (4 males and 6 females) aged 19- 42 years. They had glycolic acid 35%peel for treatment of the scars. Group III: Included ten patients (2 males and 8 females) aged 19-39years. They were treated with skin microneedling with dermapen combined with glycolic acid 35%peel.Results: Results revealed that there was statistical significant decrease between acne scar grade indermapen group before and after treatment with degree of improvement (80%). Also, in glycolic acidgroup before and after treatment with degree of improvement (70%). Statistical significant decreasebetween acne scar grade in combination group before and after treatment with degree of improvement(100%). Statistical significant increase in frequency of improvement in rolling compared to boxcar andicepick in all groups and also in boxcar compared to icepick.Conclusion: Dermapen and glycolic acidpeel are effective and safe techniques in acne scars especially (superficial scars). Combination ofdermapen and glycolic acid peel is more effective than monotherapy by either dermapen or glycolicacid peel and also helps in improvement of deep acne scars.