title: Therapeutic response of 70% trichloroacetic acid CROSS in atrophic acne scars.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acne scarring is a common sequela of acne for which no single treatment method is uniformly effective. The chemical reconstruction of skin scars (CROSS) therapy using high-concentration trichloroacetic acid (TCA) has shown promise as a cheap, safe, and effective modality of treatment in acne scars.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the therapeutic response of 70% TCA CROSS on atrophic acne scars and to evaluate the adverse effects of this therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-three patients with postacne atrophic scars were treated with 70% of TCA focal application every 2 weeks by the CROSS technique and results evaluated on 3 parameters: physician assessment, patient assessment, and satisfaction level of patients, after a follow-up of 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Good or excellent improvement (>50%) was seen in 66% of patients on physician and patient assessments. The patients were either very satisfied or satisfied in 81.1% of cases. Patients with predominantly boxcar scars and higher pretreatment scar severity were associated with better treatment outcomes. Age, sex, duration of scars, or type of skin did not significantly influence the treatment outcome and adverse effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study showed that 70% of TCA is a safe and effective treatment option in all types of atrophic acne scars, especially in severe boxcar scars.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, Geetanjali Medical College and Hospital, Udaipur, India; †Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, RNT Medical College, Udaipur, India; ‡Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, SMS Medical College, Jaipur, India.
authors.forename: Nidheesh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: Lalit K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Ashok Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Khare
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kuldeep
authors.forename: Asit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mittal
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000150:complications; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002615:Chemexfoliation / Q000379:methods*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010045:Outpatients; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014238:Trichloroacetic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D014238:Trichloroacetic Acid