Topical Treatments

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What Is It?

A variety of different topical over-the-counter and prescription treatments are offered as a possible treatment for very shallow acne scars. These include Mederma®, vitamin E, retinoids, and human synthetic EGF.

Good or Excellent Response

Strength of Evidence
1
2
3
4
5
13% of patients achieved a good (>50%) or excellent (>75%) improvement in scarring after 12 sessions

Moderate Response

Strength of Evidence
1
2
3
4
5
49% of patients achieved at least a moderate (>25%) improvement in scarring after 12 sessions
▸ Based on These Clinical Studies & Trials
▾ Based on These Clinical Studies & Trials
  1. Afra, T. P., Razmi T, M., Narang, T., Dogra, S. & Kumar, A. Topical tazarotene gel, 0.1%, as a novel treatment approach for atrophic postacne scars. JAMA Facial Plast Surg 21, 125–132 (2019).
  2. Loss, M. J. et al. Adapalene 0.3% gel shows efficacy for the treatment of atrophic acne scars. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb) 8, 245–257 (2018).
  3. Stoddard, M. A., Herrmann, J., Moy, L. & Moy, R. Improvement of atrophic acne scars in skin of color using topical synthetic epidermal growth factor (EGF) serum: a pilot study. J Drugs Dermatol 16, 322–326 (2017).
  4. Seidel, R. & Moy, R. L. Improvement in atrophic acne scars using topical synthetic epidermal growth factor (EGF) serum: a pilot study. J Drugs Dermatol 14, 1005–1010 (2015).
  5. Chandrashekar, B. S., Ashwini, K. R., Vasanth, V. & Navale, S. Retinoic acid and glycolic acid combination in the treatment of acne scars. Indian Dermatol Online J 6, 84–88 (2015).
  6. Dreno, B. et al. Combined 0.1% retinaldehyde/ 6% glycolic acid cream in prophylaxis and treatment of acne scarring. Dermatology 214, 260–267 (2007).

Side Effects

Low
Low side effects and adverse reactions

Reviews

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3.6
1118 Reviews

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