title: Focal high-concentration trichloroacetic acid peeling for treatment of atrophic facial chickenpox scar: an open-label study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite their prevalence, there is a paucity of information in the medical literature on the treatment of atrophic chickenpox scars.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of using the chemical reconstruction of skin scar technique for the treatment of atrophic facial chickenpox scars.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred patients (mean age 23 years; Fitzpatrick skin types II-IV) were treated with focal chemical peeling with 70% trichloroacetic acid (TCA) for a maximum of six sessions. Improvement rate, frequency of adverse events and patient satisfaction were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five hundred thirty-three peeling sessions in 100 consecutive patients were performed. Final assessment at 12-week follow-up visit after the last treatment revealed improvement in 95% of patients: mild improvement in 12 cases, moderate improvement in 42 cases, and marked improvement in 41 cases. The appearance of scars did not change in five patients. Seventy-nine patients expressed moderate to high satisfaction with the results. Post-treatment side effects were mild and transient, resolving gradually within the study period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Focal peeling with high-concentration TCA appears to be a safe and effective alternative in the treatment of atrophic facial chickenpox scars.
authors.affiliation: Skin Research Center, Shohada-e Tajrish Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. b_barikbin@sbmu.ac.ir
authors.forename: Behrooz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Barikbin
authors.forename: Nelda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saadat
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Akbari
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yousefi
authors.forename: Parviz
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Toossi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002424:Caustics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002615:Chemexfoliation; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D004890:Erythema / Q000209:etiology; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017495:Hyperpigmentation / Q000209:etiology; D017496:Hypopigmentation / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014238:Trichloroacetic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002424:Caustics; D014238:Trichloroacetic Acid