PMID- 36934435
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20230413
LR  - 20230523
IS  - 1096-9101 (Electronic)
IS  - 0196-8092 (Linking)
VI  - 55
IP  - 4
DP  - 2023 Apr
TI  - Fractional CO(2) -laser versus microneedle radiofrequency for acne scars: A 
      randomized, single treatment, split-face trial.
PG  - 335-343
LID - 10.1002/lsm.23655 [doi]
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ablative fractional CO(2) laser (AFL) is an established first-line 
      energy-based treatment for acne scars. Microneedle radiofrequency (MNRF) is an 
      emerging treatment, also targeting the skin in fractions. No studies have so far 
      compared AFL with MNRF for acne scars in a direct controlled, side-by-side 
      comparison. In this study, we compared AFL and MNRF treatments for acne scars in 
      a randomized split-face trial with blinded response evaluation, objective 
      measures, and patient-reported outcomes. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHOD: 
      Fifteen patients with moderate to severe acne scars were included. At baseline 
      each patient had two similar test areas identified, these were randomized to 
      receive a single treatment with either AFL or MNRF. Standardized multilayer 
      techniques were applied with AFL and MNRF, first targeting the scar base, 
      thereafter the entire scar area. Outcome measures included blinded evaluation of 
      clinical improvement of scar texture (0-10 scale) at 1- and 3-months follow-up, 
      local skin reactions (LSR), pain according to Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), skin 
      integrity quantified by transepidermal water loss, and patient satisfaction. 
      RESULTS: Fifteen patients completed the study with a median test area size of 
      24.6 cm(2) (interquartile range [IQR] 14.9-40.6). A single treatment with AFL or 
      MNRF equally resulted in a median 1-point texture improvement after 3 months 
      follow-up (p < 0.001). Best responders achieved up to a 3-point improvement 
      (n = 3 test areas, 10% of treatment areas). Erythema and loss of skin integrity 
      was more intense after AFL compared with MNRF after 2-4 days (p < 0.001). 
      Patients reported MNRF (VAS 7.0) to be significantly more painful than AFL (5.5) 
      (p = 0.009). Patients were generally satisfied with the overall outcome on a 
      10-point scale at median 6 for both treatments (IQR 5-7). CONCLUSION: AFL and 
      MNRF treatments are equally effective at improving texture in skin with acne 
      scars. AFL resulted in more pronounced LSRs whereas MNRF was more painful. 
      Patients were generally satisfied with the overall outcome.
CI  - (c) 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
FAU - Hendel, Kristoffer
AU  - Hendel K
AUID- ORCID: 0000-0003-1845-1224
AD  - Department of Dermatology, Copenhagen University Hospital Bispebjerg and 
      Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark.
FAU - Karmisholt, Katrine
AU  - Karmisholt K
AUID- ORCID: 0000-0001-8511-3634
AD  - Department of Dermatology, Copenhagen University Hospital Bispebjerg and 
      Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark.
FAU - Hedelund, Lene
AU  - Hedelund L
AD  - Department of Dermatology, Aaarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
FAU - Haedersdal, Merete
AU  - Haedersdal M
AUID- ORCID: 0000-0003-1250-2035
AD  - Department of Dermatology, Copenhagen University Hospital Bispebjerg and 
      Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark.
LA  - eng
PT  - Case Reports
PT  - Randomized Controlled Trial
DEP - 20230319
PL  - United States
TA  - Lasers Surg Med
JT  - Lasers in surgery and medicine
JID - 8007168
RN  - 142M471B3J (Carbon Dioxide)
SB  - IM
MH  - Humans
MH  - Cicatrix/therapy
MH  - Carbon Dioxide
MH  - Treatment Outcome
MH  - *Acne Vulgaris
MH  - *Lasers, Gas
MH  - Pain
OTO - NOTNLM
OT  - ablative fractional CO2 laser
OT  - acne scars
OT  - microneedle fractional radiofrequency
OT  - microneedle radiofrequency
OT  - patient satisfaction
OT  - skin texture
EDAT- 2023/03/20 06:00
MHDA- 2023/04/13 06:42
CRDT- 2023/03/19 16:53
PHST- 2023/03/07 00:00 [revised]
PHST- 2022/11/27 00:00 [received]
PHST- 2023/03/09 00:00 [accepted]
PHST- 2023/04/13 06:42 [medline]
PHST- 2023/03/20 06:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2023/03/19 16:53 [entrez]
AID - 10.1002/lsm.23655 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Lasers Surg Med. 2023 Apr;55(4):335-343. doi: 10.1002/lsm.23655. Epub 2023 Mar 
      19.