Treatment of Atrophic Facial Acne Scars With Microneedling Followed by Polymethylmethacrylate-Collagen Gel Dermal Filler

• Published in: Dermatologic surgery Vol. 45; no. 12; pp. 1570 - 1579
• Main Authors: Biesman, Brian S, Cohen, Joel L, DiBernardo, Barry E, Emer, Jason J, Geronemus, Roy G, Gold, Michael H, Lehman, Alayne S, Pilcher, Brian K, Monheit, Gary D, Schlesinger, Todd E, Teller, Craig F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved 01-12-2019
• Subjects: Acne Vulgaris - complications; Adult; Aged; Atrophy - diagnosis; Atrophy - etiology; Atrophy - therapy; Cicatrix - diagnosis; Cicatrix - etiology; Cicatrix - therapy; Collagen - administration & dosage; Collagen - adverse effects; Combined Modality Therapy - adverse effects; Combined Modality Therapy - methods; Dermal Fillers - administration & dosage; Dermal Fillers - adverse effects; Face; Female; Humans; Injections, Intralesional; Male; Middle Aged; Needles; Pilot Projects; Polymethyl Methacrylate - administration & dosage; Polymethyl Methacrylate - adverse effects; Prospective Studies; Severity of Illness Index; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1076-0512; 1524-4725
• DOI: 10.1097/DSS.0000000000001872

BACKGROUNDMicroneedling and soft-tissue filler injections have been used independently to improve acne scarring. The effectiveness of a combined approach using microneedling followed by polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)-collagen gel has not been carefully studied.
OBJECTIVEThe goal of this study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of microneedling alone versus microneedling followed by injection of PMMA-collagen gel filler for correction of atrophic facial acne scars.
METHODSWe conducted a multicenter, open-label, randomized, prospective study on subjects with distensible atrophic acne scars in the face to determine whether microneedling with PMMA-collagen gel is a superior acne scar treatment over microneedling alone. Forty-four subjects received 3 microneedling treatments over a 12-week period followed by randomization to treatments with PMMA-collagen gel (treatment group) or no further treatment (control group).
RESULTSAt 24 weeks, the treatment group achieved a statistically significant improvement in acne scores over microneedling alone. The improvement continued at 36 weeks. At 24 weeks, the treatment group showed a strong trend in improvement on the Physician Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale compared with microneedling alone.