Study of safety and efficacy of autologous platelet rich plasma combined with fractional CO2 laser in the treatment of post acne scars: a comparative simultaneous split-faces study

Abstract

Background: Many treatments are available for treating post acne scars but optimized treatment does not exist still. Hence, this study was conducted with the aim to evaluate the safety and efficacy of autologous platelet rich plasma combined with fractional CO2 laser for treatment of acne scars when used in Indian skin.Methods: Thirty patients attended to the Dermatology OPD were enrolled in the study after meeting inclusion criteria. They underwent split-face therapy. They received ablative fractional carbon dioxide (CO2) laser combined with autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment on one half of their face and ablative fractional CO2 laser with intradermal normal saline on the other half. The injections were administered immediately after laser therapy. Each participant received 4 treatments spaced by 1 month and were followed up for a period of 4 months.Results: The outcome among the study subjects were assessed using Goodman and Baron Scale at different time intervals. Significant reduction in acne scars was observed in both PRP injection site and normal saline injection site but better reduction of acne scars was noted at the PRP site. The blinded physician’s assessment and patient satisfaction was better at PRP injected side as compared to the normal saline injected side. The incidence of adverse effects and pain during the procedure was significantly lower in PRP injected side compared normal saline injected side.Conclusions: This study demonstrated that PRP should be considered as an adjuvant therapeutic option for dermatologic procedures such as fractional CO2 laser resurfacing for treatment of post acne scars as it might have additional benefit of reducing the adverse effects such as persistent erythema and edema.

Efficacy of Fractional Co2 Laser With Topical Platelet Rich Plasma in Treatment of Acne Scars

“…Several studies have also observed satisfactory outcome of treatment by the patients. [13,14,15] In our study patients were followed up on the third day after the procedure for subjective assessment of symptoms such as redness, swelling and crusting in the treated areas and observed that each of these symptoms were milder and had a shorter down-time. Gawdat et al used topical and intradermal platelet-rich plasma after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser for acne scar treatment in 30 patients.…”

Fractional CO2 laser vs fractional CO2 with topical platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of acne scars: A split-face comparison trial

“…These findings were similar to the findings of several studies. [ 13 14 18 19 20 26 ] This indicates that patients were satisfied with the treatment outcome. However, the addition of PRP on the left half of the face did not affect the final outcome of the scar.…”

“…Shah et al . [ 20 ] carried out a split-face study on 30 patients with FCL on both sides and intradermal saline on one side and intradermal PRP on the other side on the fifth day after the laser session. They reported significant improvement on both sides of the face, but blinded observer and patient noted better improvement on the PRP-treated site.…”

“…[ 11 ] Recently, topical and intradermal PRP injections have been used for acne scar revision combined with laser therapy with mixed results. [ 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 ]…”

Safety and efficacy of platelet‐rich plasma vs carboxytherapy in the treatment of atrophic scars: A comparative clinical and histopathological study

“…Zhu et al 14 evaluated the efficacy of PRP in facial acne scar and found that the clinical improvement was significantly better on the PRP treated side than the control side. Shah et al 15 conducted a split‐face study on 30 patients with fractional CO 2 laser on both sides and intradermal saline on one side and intradermal PRP on the other side on the 5th day after the laser session. They reported significant improvement on both sides of the face, but blinded observer and patient noted better improvement on the PRP‐treated site.…”