Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of Microneedling Combined With Botulinum Toxin-A Versus Meso-Botox Injection in the Treatment of Atrophic Acne Scars: A Split-face Comparative Study

Sohag University30 enrolled

Overview

Post-acne scars are psychologically disappointing and therapeutically challenging condition. No standard treatment for atrophic acne scars. Micro-Botox, is a highly diluted BTX-A which could be injected safely intra-dermally. It targets the superficial fibers of facial muscles, sweat, and sebaceous glands inducing pores shrinkage, decreasing the sebum and excessive sweating, in addition to face lifting and reducing fine wrinkles without affecting emotions, this subsequently makes the skin tighter and gives the facial skin a smooth appearance. Also, BTX-A appears to have an inhibitory effect on fibroblasts and collagen remodeling activity, in addition to releasing muscular tension at scar edges through superficial muscle relaxation. So, it can reduce the tethering and pulling effect of the muscles surrounding the acne scars. Also, it has anti-inflammatory and angiogenesis induction effects. Therefore, micro-Botox is believed to improve acne scars. Therefore, it will be interesting to compare the efficacy and safety of microneedling combined with BTX-A versus meso-Botox injection in the treatment of atrophic acne scars through a split-face clinical study.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Atrophic Acne Scar

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 50 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients with atrophic post-acne scars. Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnancy and lactation. Ongoing infection within the targeted treatment region or active acne lesions. Skin cancer, or precancerous lesions. History of keloid formation. History of allergy to BTX. Patients with neuromuscular diseases, patients with pre-existing medical conditions that cause muscle weakness as myasthenia gravis. Patients who underwent Botox injection, during the last 6 months. Patients who were under treatment by systemic retinoids in the previous 6 months. Patients with a history of chemical peels or laser procedures within 6 months of the study period. Patients with bleeding disorders.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Goodman and Baron Qualitative Global Scarring Grading System:

Acne scarring severity will be graded before and after treatment. Grade 1 (macular) erythematous, hyper/hypopigmented flat marks; Grade 2 (mild) mild atrophy or hypertrophic scars that may not be obvious at a distance of 50cm or greater \& may be covered adequately by makeup or beard hair in men; Grade 3 (moderate) moderate atrophy or hypertrophic scarring obvious at a distance of 50cm or greater, not covered by makeup or beard hair but can be flattened by manual stretching of the skin; and Grade 4 (severe) severe atrophy or hypertrophic scarring not flattened by manual stretching of the skin.

Time frame: 6 months