Glycolic Acid (GA) Peel versus Dermapen in Management of Acne Scars Among Egyptian Patients: A Comparative Study

Background: A relatively recent minimally invasive technique, microneedling involves rolling tiny, thin needles to puncture the dermal superficially and precisely, used historically as a collagen induction therapy for face scars and dermal renewal especially scars from acne.
Objective: To assess and contrast dermapen, glycolic acid (GA) peel, and a combination of the two therapies' safety and effectiveness in treating acne scars.
Cases and methods: Thirty cases with acne scars participated in this trial, ten cases each. Cases were divided into three cohorts at random; cohort I had dermapen therapy, whereas cohort II received glycolic peel therapy. Both procedures were administered to Cohort III. Six sessions were given to each case at intervals of two weeks. The quartile grading scale, the degree of case satisfaction, and the qualitative global scar grading system before and after therapy served as the foundation for the clinical evaluation.
Results: The degree of acne scars before and after therapy with the dermapen and glycolic acid peel cohorts did not significantly improve. The degree of improvement did not differ statistically significantly between the cohorts. The severity of the acne scar was improved following dermapen and glycolic acid peel therapy.
Conclusion: When it came to treating atrophic acne scars, neither dermapen nor glycolic acid peel worked as a monotherapy. However, the severity of the acne scar significantly improved when combined with one another.