INTRODUCTION

Acne vulgaris can be defined as chronic, self-limiting, and an inflammatory disease of pilosebaceous unit, manifesting generally in adolescence with pleomorphic lesions such as comedones, papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts.[1] Untreated acne, especially the inflammatory type, results in often distressing scars.[2] It is difficult to treat all acne scar types satisfactorily with a single treatment option. Hence, combination therapy is better suited for managing post-acne scars. The potential role of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in dermatology and aesthetic medicine is an exciting frontier that may eventually lead to superior therapies in the near future. Hence, this split-face study was conducted in 30 patients with an aim to evaluate the efficacy of PRP in combination with fractional ablative CO₂ laser (FACL) versus FACL alone.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

For this study, a total of 30 patients with Goodman and Baron’s acne scar of grade 3 and 4 who presented to the outpatient department of dermatology, venereology, and leprosy at Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Sri Amritsar, Punjab, India, were enrolled. It was a split-face study in which the right half of patient’s face was taken as the study side where FACL (Sellas Cis F1-Fractional CO₂ Laser) was performed followed by PRP injections. Parameters of FACL used were, pattern, scatter; mode, stamping; PPA, 49; fluence, 25–45 mJ/cm²; and number of passes, single. Double-spin method was used to prepare PRP. A total of 20 mL of patient’s blood was collected in a sterile vacutainer tube containing an anticoagulant acid citrate dextrose-A. First, slow spin was performed at 1000 revolution per minute for 10 min at room temperature. After the first spin, plasma was gently aspirated and transferred to the second set of vacutainers. Second spin (heavy spin) was performed at room temperature at the rate of 2000 RPM for 5 min. The upper two-third of this double-spinned plasma was collected as platelet-poor plasma, and the bottom one-third was used as PRP. PRP was injected intradermally through a 30 G needle. The amount injected was sufficient to elevate and blanch the scar. Injection sites were located within 2-cm interval to receive 0.2 mL PRP or normal saline. The total amount injected was 1–2 mL depending on the number of scars. The left half of the same patient was taken as the control side, where FACL was performed followed by normal saline injections. The procedure was performed under topical anesthesia (combination of prilocaine 2.5% and lignocaine 2.5%) under occlusion for approximately 45 min before the procedure. In addition, while injecting PRP injections, ice pack was applied to reduce pain when required. A total of four such treatment sessions were performed at an interval of 4 weeks. Intermittent treatment in the form of topical sunscreen and strict photoprotection was advised. Follow-up was performed for 2 months after the last session. Outcomes and side effects were documented after each session and on follow-up.

RESULTS

The mean age of study population was 26.93 years (standard deviation [SD] = 4.77). Male to female ratio was 1.3:1. Of the total 30 patients, 6 patients (20%) had grade 3 acne scar and 24 (80%) had grade 4 acne scar [Table 1]. At the time of enrollment, patients with same acne scar grade on both sides were selected to ensure matching and to avoid bias [Figure 1]. Mean G and B AQGS on the study and control side was 3.80 with SD of 0.40 at baseline. After completion of four treatment sessions, it was reduced to 2.43 (SD = 0.76) and 2.76 (SD = 0.49) on the study and control side, respectively. Improvement on both sides was statistically significant (P = 0.000) [Table 2], [Figure 2]. Even though pretreatment G and B AQGS was equal on both the sides, pretreatment PSS differed on the study and control side because this score reflected patient’s self perception of their scarring. On the study side, pretreatment mean PSS was 8.56 (SD = 1.02), which was reduced to 4.07 (SD = 1.18) after completion of four treatment sessions, whereas on the control side, it was reduced to 6.30 (SD = 1.19) from baseline mean PSS of 8.46 (SD = 0.92) [Table 3]. Most common side effects reported were erythema and burning followed by edema, which was seen in 63.3% patients on the study side and in 90% patients on the control side. Other side effects reported were dryness, scabbing, persistent erythema, and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation as summarized in Table 4 [Figure 3].

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Figure 1

Right half of patient’s face. (A) Baseline. (B) After four sessions. (C) On follow-up after 2 months

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Figure 2

Left half of patient’s face. (A) Baseline. (B) After four sessions. (C) On follow-up after 2 months

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Figure 3

Right half of patient’s face. (A) Baseline. (B) After four sessions. (C) On follow-up after 2 months

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DISCUSSION

This study was conducted in an attempt to evaluate the role of adjuvant new therapies such as PRP along with time-tested established modalities such as FACL for managing post-acne scars.[3] In this study, mean G and B AQGS on the study and control side was 3.80 (SD = 0.40) at baseline. On the study side, after completion of four treatment sessions, the mean grade was reduced to 2.43 (SD = 0.76), whereas on the control side, it was reduced to 2.76 (SD = 0.49). The mean percentage improvement in G and B AQGS after four sessions on the study side (33.61%) was more as compared to the control side (26.94%). With Wilcoxon signed-rank test, this difference in improvement between the study and control side was statistically significant (P = 0.02). Similar results were obtained in a study conducted by Abdel Aal et al.,[4] in which excellent improvement was observed on right side where FACL was combined with intradermal PRP injections. In a split-face study by Shah et al.,[5] where outcomes after FACL with and without PRP injections were assessed using G and B quantitative scale, significant reduction was observed in acne scars on the study side (mean G and B quantitative grade was 14.83 at baseline and 4.2 at 4 months) and the control side (mean G and B grade was 15.23 at baseline and 7.5 at 4 months). Min et al.[6] also concluded that combined treatment approach with FACL and PRP for acne scar management appeared to be safe and effective. There are several mechanisms that could explain the synergistic effects of PRP on overall clinical improvement. Activated platelets possess α-granules containing secretory proteins (e.g., platelet derived growth factors and transforming growth factors).[7] These proteins bind to the receptors of target cells (e.g., mesenchymal stem cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and epidermal cells) and direct cellular proliferation, matrix formation, collagen synthesis, and so forth. PDGF, TGF-β, and insulin like growth factors also facilitate chemotaxis and mitogenesis of stem cells, angiogenesis for capillary ingrowth, and enhance collagen synthesis.[8] Combination of FACL along with PRP is synergistic in a manner that microthermal zones created after laser treatment facilitates better absorption of PRP, leading to enhanced collagen remodeling because of various growth factors released from platelets. Faghihi et al.[9] revealed that overall clinical improvement of acne scars was higher on the side where FACL was combined with PRP than on the side where FACL was performed alone. But the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.15) after the completion of treatment sessions. This study concluded that adding PRP to FACL treatment did not produce any statistically significant synergistic effects.[9] In this study, on the study side, mean PSS was 8.56 (SD = 18.75), which was reduced to 4.07 (SD = 1.18) after the completion of four treatment sessions with combined intradermal PRP injections and FACL. On the control side, mean PSS score was 8.46 (SD = 0.92), which was reduced to 6.30 (SD = 1.19) after FACL. Reduction in mean percentage of PSS was statistically significant on both sides of the face (P = 0.000). The reduction in mean PSS on the study side (52.45%) was more than that on the control side (25.41%) after completion of four sessions. In a study by Manuskiatti et al.,[10] efficacy of FACL in acne scar was assessed using subjective ratings. They reported an improvement of at least 50% in 62% patients as per subjective ratings.[10] Our study also reported improvement of 52.54% on the right side where FACL was performed in combination with PRP. After thorough review of literature, comparison among various related studies conducted so far is summarized in Table 5. The difference in the outcomes could be attributed to variation in the number of treatment sessions, follow-up period, lack of objective measurement tools for assessing improvement in acne scars, assessor’s bias in assessment, variable sample size of study population, and variation in laser parameters. In this study, all the patients developed early side effects such as burning and erythema after the procedure on both sides of the face. Posttreatment scabbing was seen in 80% of our patients over the control side and in 73.3% of patients over the study side. Edema was significantly (P = 0.015) more on the control side (seen in 90% patients) than that on the study side (seen in 63.3% patients). In a study by Shah et al.,[5] 83.33% patients developed edema after the procedure, majority of them (60%) belonged to the control side where FACL was performed along with intradermal normal saline injections. Persistent erythema was seen in 26.6% patients on the control side incidence, which was slightly higher than that on the study side (13.3%) patients. The lower incidence of dryness and edema on the study side could be explained by the effects of various growth factors present in PRP, which modifies the wound-healing properties of acne scar after FACL. A study by Min et al.,[6] on the effect of PRP on collagen production and modulation of laser-induced inflammation, concluded that the PRP treatment increased the clinical efficacy with decreased severity of adverse effects such as erythema, edema, and dryness. Even after topical application of PRP following FACL, the redness, swelling, and pain experienced by each patient were significantly lesser on the side treated with FACL in combination with PRP than that on the side where FACL was performed alone (P < 0.05) as documented by Kar and Raj.[12]

Of 30 patients, post inflammatory hyperpigmentation was reported in 16 patients (53.33%). Incidence of PIH was more on the control side (33.3% patients) than that on the study side (20% patients), though the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.243). In a study by Shah et al.,[5] PIH was seen in 10 (33.33%) patients with higher proportion of them belonging to the control side (20%) than that to the study side (13.3% patients). Incidence of PIH as high as 68% has been reported after laser resurfacing.[13] Other delayed side effect reported in this study was acne Figures 4 and 5 aggravation, which was seen in 26.6% patients on the control side and in 16.6% patients on the study side. In a study by Shah et al.,[5] acneiform eruptions were seen in 10% patients over the study side and in 26.6% patients over the control side. In none of the patients, acneiform eruptions were reported by Faghihi et al.[9] This study did not find any difference in the incidence of milia between the study and control side, over both sides, it was reported in 10% patients.

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Figure 4

Left half of patient’s face. (A) Baseline. (B) After four sessions. (C) On follow-up after 2 months

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Figure 5

(A) Left half of patient’s face showing erythema after FACL. (B) Right half of patient’s face showing scabbing after treatment

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Study limitations: The limitations of our study include short follow-up, as scar improvement is better judged 6 months after treatment, single nonblinded assessor, and more objective methods to measure improvement in acne scars.

CONCLUSION

To conclude, there is no single proven modality for the effective treatment of post-acne scars. Combination of various modalities is often needed to meet the desired outcomes. Combination of FACL with newer adjuvants such as PRP has definitive role in managing post-acne scars with lesser side effects than FACL alone. Growth factors in PRP give favorable immediate results in terms of scar remodeling and facial rejuvenation. However, FACL has long-lasting effects on collagen remodeling even after completion of treatment sessions in patients with post-acne scars.