Approximately 47% of patients affected by acne vulgaris develop atrophic scarring; however, recent studies have indicated that combining platelet-rich plasma with fractional ablative carbon dioxide lasers could improve treatment outcomes and support skin healing.
In a new review, published in Lasers in Medical Science, investigators evaluated the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as an adjunct therapy to fractional ablative carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers specifically for atrophic acne scarring. Acne vulgaris, which has a prevalence of over 90% among adolescents, results in scarring in approximately 47% of affected patients, affecting their quality of life.
The analysis encompassed six randomized controlled trials with a total of 189 patients aged 19 to 44 years (mean age = 27 years). Findings from these studies indicated that the combination of PRP and laser therapy improved clinical outcomes compared with laser therapy alone. Specifically, the patients receiving both PRP and CO2 laser treatments demonstrated increases in collagen production and improvements in epidermal thickness and collagen fiber density compared with those receiving monotherapy.
Additionally, the combination therapy was associated with fewer adverse effects such as hyperpigmentation. The growth factors within PRP, including platelet-derived growth factor and transforming growth factor–beta, may contribute to these benefits by promoting tissue remodeling.
The review supported the hypothesis that PRP may serve as an adjunct to laser treatments for managing atrophic acne scarring.
Full disclosures can be found in the published review.
