Deep peeling using phenol versus percutaneous collagen induction combined with trichloroacetic acid 20% in atrophic post-acne scars; a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Deep peeling using phenol and percutaneous collagen induction (PCI) are used in treating acne scars.

AIM: To compare deep peeling using phenol and PCI combined with trichloroacetic acid (TCA) 20% in treating atrophic acne scars.

METHODS: 24 patients with post-acne atrophic scars were randomly divided into two groups; group 1 was subjected to one session of deep peeling using phenol, and group 2 was subjected to four sessions of PCI combined with TCA 20%. As a secondary outcome measure, side effects were recorded and patients were asked to assess their % of improvement by a questionnaire completed 8 months after the procedure.

RESULTS: Scar severity scores improved by a mean of 75.12% (p < 0.001) in group 1 and a mean of 69.43% (p < 0.001) in group 2. Comparing the degree of improvement in different types of scars, within the same group after treatment, revealed a significant highest degree of improvement in the rolling type (p = 0.005) in group 2.

CONCLUSION: Deep peeling using phenol and PCI with TCA 20% were effective in treating post-acne atrophic scars.