Source: Addiction  |  Posted 9 years ago

Atrophic acne scars in dark-complexioned patients can be safely and effectively treated by chemical reconstruction of skin scars (CROSS), according to Korean researchers.

Such scars are a common complication of acne for which there was no appropriate single treatment modality.

Investigators at the Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, say CROSS is a technique "consisting of the focal application of higher trichloroacetic acid (TCA) concentrations by pressing hard on the entire depressed area of atrophic acne scars."

In this study, they analysed 65 patients treated with CROSS between July 1996 and July 2001 for atrophic acne scars.

While all these subjects had Fitzpatrick skin types IV-V, 32 were treated with 100 percent TCA CROSS and 33 with 65 percent TCA CROSS.

Of the 32 patients in the 100 percent TCA group, 30 (94 percent) were found to have a good clinical response. In the second group, 27 of the 33 subjects (82 percent) also experienced a good clinical response.

Excellent results were found in all subjects in the 100 percent TCA group who received five or six courses of treatment. Both groups recorded good satisfaction rates and no cases of significant complication were seen.