Management of Acne Scars for Sequential Combination Therapy of Microneedle Radiofrequency Followed by Fractional CO2 Laser Compared to Each Therapy Alone: An Open Randomized Trial
Mohammed N. Al Mallah, Mustafa Nooruldeen Abdulqader, Qasim S. Al Chalabi, Haitham B. FathiObjective:
Current treatments for acne scars such as microneedling radiofrequency (MNRF) and fractional CO2 (FCO2) laser have shown individual efficacy, but their combined effectiveness remains understudied. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a sequential combination therapy of MNRF followed by FCO2 laser compared with each therapy alone for the treatment of acne scars.
Methods:
An open randomized trial was conducted on 45 patients with acne scars at Al-Salam Teaching Hospital, Mosul, Iraq, from January 2022 to July 2023. The patients were randomized into 3 groups: FCO2 group (six sessions of FCO2 laser), MNRF group (six sessions of MNRF), and combined group (three sessions of MNRF followed by three sessions of FCO2 laser). The Goodman and Baron Global Quantitative Acne Scar Grading System (GBGQASGS) was used to assess the treatment effectiveness. Adverse effects were monitored. The pre-treatment and post-treatment GBGQASGS scores and the percentage reductions in the GBGQASGS scores among the three groups were assessed by ANOVA. The effect size of each treatment regimen was assessed using the Cohen
Results:
All three types of treatment significantly reduced the GBGQASGS scores. The mean score decreases were as follows: FCO2 group, from 28.66 ± 5.71 to 11.66 ± 2.71 (59.3% reduction; Cohen
Conclusion:
Sequential combination therapy of MNRF followed by FCO2 laser was more effective than each therapy alone for the treatment of acne scars, representing a promising approach for enhanced dermatological outcomes.