This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Phenol, trichloroacetic acid display efficacy in treating acne scars
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Trichloroacetic acid and phenol each displayed efficacy in treating acne scars; however, the phenol treatment resulted in less severe complications, according to recently published study results.
Researchers in Brazil conducted a single-blinded, self-controlled clinical trial of 15 patients (80% female; mean age, 28.5 years) with ice pick–type and boxcar type atrophic acne scars between April and October 2012. The chemical reconstruction of skin scars (CROSS) technique was used as treatment, with 88% phenol applied to the left hemiface and 90% trichloroacetic acid (TCA) used on the right hemiface.
An acne grading scale found significant differences between pretreatment and posttreatment (P < .001). When tolerance of pain was measured, the 90% TCA treatment showed significantly less discomfort compared with 88% phenol (P = .02).
The dermatological quality of life index found that “the mean score in posttreatment assessment was significantly lower [3.3 (± 3.3)] than that in the pretreatment assessment [6.7 (± 5.4)] (P < .05).”
Persistent erythema was noted in six patients, including four treated with phenol, while four patients experienced hyperpigmentation, including two treated with phenol.
Only the TCA treatment resulted in hypochromia (two patients) and widening of scars (two patients).
“This study confirmed the efficacy of both TCA and phenol for treating [acne] scars, but with less severe complications from the use of phenol,” the researchers concluded. “Long-term follow-up is required with these patients to better define the ultimate effectives of the substances, as well as the persistence of the complications encountered. Studies with larger samples of patients and standardization of photographs for subjective evaluation are needed to confirm these data.” – by Bruce Thiel
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts