Thirty patients with post
acne atrophic facial
scars attending the OPD during the period from April to October 2013 were offered four sittings of
microneedling with PRP on one side and
microneedling with
vitamin C on other side of the face at an interval of 1 month.
RESULTS: Twenty-seven out of the total 30 patients completed the treatment schedule. Two patients were lost to follow up and one dropped out of the study due to severe PIH. Mean age of the patients was 27.5 years. Out of 30 patients, 23 achieved reduction in
scarring by one or two grades. Excellent response was seen in five (18.5%) patients with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as compared to two (7%) patients who received treatment with
vitamin C according to physician's assessment. As far as up gradation by 1 score is considered, i.e., good response, it was similar in both cases.
Vitamin C did not prove to be as efficacious as PRP since 10 (37%) patients had poor response in
vitamin C-treated area compared to only 6 (22.2%) patients who underwent PRP
therapy, but
vitamin C proved to be efficacious in dealing with post inflammatory hyper-pigmentation secondary to
acne. Patients were more satisfied with PRP as compared to
vitamin C. The results were evaluated and statistical analysis was done using SPSS 16.0.2.
CONCLUSIONS: Overall results were better with
microneedling and PRP.
Vitamin C combined with
microneedling also showed improvement with respect to firmness and smoothness of skin; as well as post inflammatory hyper-pigmentation.
Microneedling combined with PRP proved to be good in treating boxcar and rolling
scars but had limited efficacy in dealing with
ice pick
scars.