Treating Acne Vulgaris and Scarring With Botulinum Toxin: A Systematic Review

Many treatments have been proposed for the treatment of acne vulgaris and acne scarring; however, few data exist regarding the efficacy of botulinum toxin A as a treatment option.

To compile all available data on the efficacy and safety of botulinum toxin A as a treatment for acne vulgaris and acne scarring.

A systematic review of PubMed/MEDLINE, Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), Scopus, CINAHL, and the Cochrane CENTRAL Register of Controlled Trials, and Google Scholar databases identified all cases of acne vulgaris and acne scarring treated with botulinum toxin.

Four hundred thirty-six patients (218 with acne vulgaris and 218 patients with acne scarring) from 14 manuscripts were included in this review. Results showed overall improvement for up to 3-6 months in the majority of patients based on sebometer readings, fine pore count, and patient satisfaction scores. Acne scarring improved in patients treated with botulinum toxin as a single therapy, as well as in combination with other therapies, with consistently high patient satisfaction scores.

Patients experienced a significant reduction in sebum production, number of acne lesions, and improvement in the appearance of acne scars, indicating a role for botulinum toxin A in the treatment of acne and acne scarring.