The efficacy and safety study of the combined use of platelet-rich plasma and fractional radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of post-acne scars

Abstract

Introduction. So far, a large number of skin scars treating methods have been proposed and tested. The use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is currently being considered as one of the most promising approaches to skin scar treatment.Aim. Clinical efficacy and safety evaluation of complex treatment of post-acne scars using PRP.Materials and methods. An open, randomized, prospective study was conducted in parallel groups. The study included 78 patients with post-acne scars, then randomized into 2 groups. Group 1: 36 patients receiving platelet-rich plasma (PRP); group 2: 42 patients receiving complex treatment with PRP and fractional radiofrequency ablation (PRP + FRF). PRP procedures using the micro-papular technique in group 1 were carried out 5 times with an interval of 2 weeks. The combination of PRP + FRF in group 2 was performed according to the following: the first procedure – FRF, two weeks later – PRP using the micro-papular technique. Then after 2 weeks FRF was performed again, and so on. The total number of procedures of both techniques was 10.Results and discussion. As a result of the treatment, in all patients with post-acne, the clinical indicators of the severity of skin scarring changes decreased significantly, while the most noticeable dynamics were common for patients in group 2. The scars assessment using the Vancouver scale showed that 6 and 12 months after treatment, the severity of objective components and the severity of subjective sensations decreased in most patients. The severity of their own attitude to persistent defects also decreased. Analysis of the frequency of adverse reactions during treatment and in the early period showed that there were no significant intergroup differences in individual adverse reactions. The overall frequency of adverse events in the long-term period also did not significantly differ.Conclusion. The results of the study indicate that the use of PRP in the complex treatment of scarring is a clinically effective and safe method of treatment and allows you to expand the range of therapeutic approaches for scarring skin deformities.

Keywords

• platelet-rich plasma
• post-acne
• scars
• fractional ablation