Atrophic acne scarring is a frequently encountered cosmetic problem that includes ~95% of patients with acne. The present study evaluated the efficacy of the fractional CO2 laser combined with intradermal injection of PRP versus intradermal injection of noncross-linked hyaluronic acid in treating different types of atrophic postacne scars.

The study included 30 patients with postacne scars who received three treatments of fractional CO2 laser combined with intradermal injection of PRP at one side of the face compared with intradermal injection of noncross-linked hyaluronic acid at the other side of the face. The study assessed the efficacy of the treatment by the physician′s clinical assessment using Goodman and Baron′sBaron′s qualitative and quantitative grading systems and histopathological evaluation from six participants.

The study observed-

• Inclusion of 30 patients between ages 25 to 44 years old.
• Significant reduction in the severity of acne scars on both sides after treatment using qualitative and quantitative Goodman and Baron.
• An increase in the collagen and elastic fiber content in both modalities, in histopathology, with a more favorable outcome on the PRP-treated side.

This study shows that both treatment modalities cause a significant clinical and histopathological improvement in the atrophic post-acne scar with insignificant differences between them.

J Cosmet Dermatol. 2020 Jun;19(6):1341-1352. doi: 10.1111/jocd.13427. Epub 2020 Apr 25. PMID: 32333512.