Microneedling with topical vitamin C versus microneedling with topical insulin in the treatment of atrophic post-acne scars: A split-face study.

Abstract

Post acne scars following sebaceous injury and abnormal wound healing during the course of acne is a prevalent and challenging to treat condition To evaluate microneedling by dermapen with topical vitamin C versus microneedling with topical insulin in treating atrophic post-acne scars. A split-face comparative study included 30 subjects with atrophic post-acne scars. Human insulin was topically applied to the left side of the face and on the right side, vitamin C serum was applied. Scars were assessed via the Acne Scar Assessment Scale (ASAS) and Scar quartile grading scale (SQGS). After 1 month of 4 treatments, a statistically significant mean improvement in ASAS value was reported on both split sides of the face (2.13 and 1.83) compared to baseline (3.03 and 2.93) (p=0.005; p=0.001 respectively). When compared to baseline, the mean ASAS value improved significantly with a slight more improvement on the vitamin c treated side. Topical insulin and vitamin c combined with microneedling, may both achieve comparable significant improvement for treating post acne scars. Insulin can be a promising novel anti-scarring therapy pending larger controlled studies to verify its efficacy.