title: Deep peeling using phenol versus percutaneous collagen induction combined with trichloroacetic acid 20% in atrophic post-acne scars; a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Deep peeling using phenol and percutaneous collagen induction (PCI) are used in treating acne scars.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare deep peeling using phenol and PCI combined with trichloroacetic acid (TCA) 20% in treating atrophic acne scars.
  
  
  METHODS
  24 patients with post-acne atrophic scars were randomly divided into two groups; group 1 was subjected to one session of deep peeling using phenol, and group 2 was subjected to four sessions of PCI combined with TCA 20%. As a secondary outcome measure, side effects were recorded and patients were asked to assess their % of improvement by a questionnaire completed 8 months after the procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Scar severity scores improved by a mean of 75.12% (p < 0.001) in group 1 and a mean of 69.43% (p < 0.001) in group 2. Comparing the degree of improvement in different types of scars, within the same group after treatment, revealed a significant highest degree of improvement in the rolling type (p = 0.005) in group 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Deep peeling using phenol and PCI with TCA 20% were effective in treating post-acne atrophic scars.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University , Cairo , Egypt.
authors.forename: Tahra Mohamed
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Leheta
authors.forename: Rania Mounir
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Abdel Hay
authors.forename: Yehia Farouk
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: El Garem
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D002615:Chemexfoliation; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D003094:Collagen / Q000502:physiology; D003357:Cosmetic Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D009339:Needles; D019800:Phenol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012867:Skin / Q000503:physiopathology; D014238:Trichloroacetic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D019800:Phenol; D014238:Trichloroacetic Acid; D003094:Collagen