Do combined alternating sessions of 1540 nm nonablative fractional laser and percutaneous collagen induction with trichloroacetic acid 20% show better results than each individual modality in the treatment of atrophic acne scars? A randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
There have been no well-controlled studies evaluating the efficacy of combining 1540 nm nonablative fractional laser with percutaneous collagen induction (PCI) and trichloroacetic acid (TCA) 20% in the treatment of atrophic acne scars.


OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized that combined alternating sessions of both modalities would show better results than each individual modality.


METHODS
Thirty-nine patients with post acne atrophic scars were included in this study. Patients were randomly equally divided into three groups; group 1 was subjected to six sessions of PCI combined with TCA 20% in the same session, group 2 was subjected to six sessions of 1540 nm fractional laser and group 3 was subjected to combined alternating sessions of the previously mentioned two modalities.


RESULTS
Scar severity scores improved by a mean of 59.79% (95% CI 47.38-72.21) (p < 0.001) in group 1, a mean of 61.83% (95% CI 54.09-69.56) (p < 0.001) in group 2 and a mean of 78.27% (95% CI 74.39-82.15) (p < 0.001) in group 3. The difference in the degree of improvement was statistically significant when comparing the three groups using ANOVA test (p = 0.004).


CONCLUSIONS
The current work recommends combining 1540 nm nonablative fractional laser in alternation with PCI and TCA 20% in the treatment of atrophic acne scars.
Dermatology Department, Cairo University, Faculty of Medicine , Cairo , Egypt.
Tahra M
TM
Leheta
Rania M
RM
Abdel Hay
Rehab A
RA
Hegazy
Yehia F
YF
El Garem
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003357:Cosmetic Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D008297:Male; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014238:Trichloroacetic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055815:Young Adult
D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D014238:Trichloroacetic Acid