Treating Acne Scars with Adapalene (vitamine A derivative)

• Acne scarring is a common complaint in acne patients. This is a visible sequlae of active acne and persists for a lifetime. Treatments can be costly and include chemical peels and fractionated CO2 laser therapy.

• This study measures the effect of adapalene in the treatment of acne scars

• Methods
  • prospective study
  • single-center, open-label, pilot study in subjects aged 18-50 (20 subjects, 11 male, 35,7 years old on average. On average facial acne had been present for 22.86 years and the scars for 19.26 years)
  • The scars were graded moderate or severe facial atrophic acne scars (3-4 Goodmann-BBaron scale) and were of the following types: icepick, boxcar or rolling
  • The study was done over a period of 24 weeks and measurements were done:
    • at baseline
    • on day 10
    • at weeks 8, 16, 24
    • Post-treatment follow up at 36 weeks and 48-72 weeks
  • Assessment: Global scarring grade, investigator global assessment, subject global assessment as well as quality of life scores.

• Results
  • The acne scars at baseline were moderate (in 60% of cases)
  • At week 24, more than half of the subjects (55%) achieved a 1 (38.9%) to 2 (16.6%) grade change of acne scar severity.6-12 months after the treatment, the results were still maintained in 50% of subjects.
  • IGA, SSA, subject satisfaction and quality of life scores (DLQI: Dermatology Life Quality Index all improved).

• Comment: No photographic assessment was done, no pictures were shown.

Contributors

Dr Christophe Hsu – dermatologist. Geneva, Switzerland

Source of information: 2014 (03) – Patel M, Improvement in atrophic scars by topical adapalene 0.3%. 72nd AAD (American Academy of Dermatology) Annual Meeting (Denver, CO, United States of America). Study was done by Galderma