A simple drug-delivery microneedling technique modality successfully improves linear atrophic scars

Atrophic scars are white, dermal depressions, caused by the destruction of collagen fibers and decrease in epidermal cells, following inflammation after different types of trauma. They lead to significant physical, aesthetic and psychological barriers and their treatment remain a therapeutic challenge for dermatologists. Microneedling has been shown to improve scars by stimulating angiogenesis and neocolagenesis and the combination of anti-fibrotic drugs could potentialize the results.

We present 8 cases of patients with linear scars, successfully treated with two sessions of a new Microneedling technique, using a tattoo machine, associated with drug delivery of 5-FU.

A marked improvement in scar pigmentation and texture were noted by patients and doctors, 6 months following the sessions of MMP and drug delivery with 5-FU, in different body sites. We also showed that the assessment scores of at least one of the professionals with those of the patient had significant correlations with each other, which shows consistency between the qualitative assessment instruments. We also showed that the cause of the injury can influence joint assessment scores (physicians plus patient) or those exclusive to professionals trained for the assessments, generating evidence that the cause of the injury can influence the treatment outcome itself.

We present an inexpensive and promising approach that can be easily done as an in-office procedure. Larger, multicenter studies are needed to validate this technique among the first line therapies for acne scar treatment.