Medical Journal Research

Scarring is a dire consequence of acne vulgaris. Particularly, atrophic acne scarring is highly prevalent among young adults, and its physical and psychological effects can persist throughout their lives if left untreated. This literature review will analyze various non-energy-based approaches to treating atrophic acne scarring, emphasizing recent advances within the last 5 to 10 years. To accomplish this, we performed a PubMed search for various acne scar treatments such as chemical peels, dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, subcision, microneedling, punch techniques, dermal fillers, and thread lifting. Our findings and analysis show that there is no panacean solution to treating atrophic acne scars, which explains the evolving trend towards developing unique combinatorial treatments. Although a fair comparison of each treatment approach is difficult to achieve due to the studies’ varying sample sizes, strength of evidence, treatment execution, etc, there still remains a level of consensus on what treatments are well suited for particular scar types.

Subcutaneous incisionless surgery, also known as subcision, is a minimally invasive procedure that is commonly indicated for the treatment of atrophic acne scars. In recent years, many new techniques have been developed to maximize results from this procedure. This review article aims to identify an updated list of instruments and combinatorial treatments available for atrophic acne scar patients undergoing subcision. We constructed a comprehensive PubMed search term and performed triple-blinded screening on all resulting studies for mentions of subcision as indicated by acne scarring. Our results show that there are four main categories of subcision tools that are commonly employed to treat atrophic acne scars: needles, cannulas, wires, and blunt-blade instruments. Usage of these devices varies by scar depth, personal preference, and combinatorial treatment options. Overall, subcision is a particularly effective treatment for atrophic acne scars, and there is vast potential for further innovation with this technique.