A comparison of treatment efficacy of chemical reconstruction of skin scars with 50% trichloroacetic acid peel and microneedling in acne scars.

Objective To assess the effectiveness of Chemical reconstruction of skin scars (CROSS) with 50% TCA peel and Microneedling in acne scars in the treatment of acne scars. Methods This trial was carried out from 15th March to 14th September 2022, at Outpatient Department of Dermatology, Services Hospital, Lahore. Patients of both genders and 18 to 50 years of age, who had grade 2 to 4 acne scars were enrolled. Their acne scars were graded by Goodman's Qualitative Acne Scarring Grading System. Paper lottery method was used to randomly divide them into 2 groups. Group A patients received 50% TCA peel whereas in Group B, patients were treated with microneedling with dermapen. Follow-up was done one month after the last treatment session and the response was recorded. Excellent response was labelled if patient's acne scars reduced by two grades, good response if one grade was reduced and a poor response was no improvement. Efficacy was considered as good or excellent response. Results A total of 84 patients were enrolled. The mean of the ages of patients in group A was 33.21±7.22 years and in group B was 32.12±6.59 years. Majority of the patients 60 (71.43%) were between 18 to 35 years of age. Out of 84 patients, 73 (86.90%) were females and 11 (13.10%) were males with female to male ratio of 6.6:1. Efficacy of Group A (50% TCA peel) was noted in 31 (73.81%) patients while in Group B (microneedling with dermapen) was seen in 39 (92.86%) patients (p-value = 0.019). Conclusion We concluded that microneedling with dermapen was more efficacious in the treatment of post acne facial scars than chemical reconstruction of scars (CROSS) with 50% TCA peel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]