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Tretinoin‐iontophoresis in atrophic acne scars

1999; Wiley; Volume: 38; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1046/j.1365-4362.1999.00586.x

1365-4632

Jolanta B. Schmidt, Peter Donath, Johanna Hannes, Sylvia Perl, R. Neumayer, Angelika Reiner,

Skin Protection and Aging

Abstract Background Atrophic acne scars are a frequent problem after acne. Hitherto, mainly invasive treatment measures were possible. In a recent paper, we demonstrated the positive effects of iontophoresis with 0.025% tretinoin gel vs. estriol 0.03%. Objective In this further study, the recording of the clinical effects of iontophoresis with 0.025% tretinoin gel in atrophic acne scars was supplemented by immunohistochemistry investigations of collagen I and III, proliferation markers, and the estimation of epidermal thickness. Methods The treatment was performed twice weekly in 32 volunteer patients for a period of 3 months by application of the substance under a constant direct current of 3 mA for 20 min. Skin biopsies prior to and at the end of treatment were performed in 32 voluntary patients in order to investigate collagen I/III and proliferation markers by immunohistochemistry methods. Results Clinically, at the end of treatment, in 94% of patients a significant decrease in the scar depth was observed. Neither epidermal thickness nor proliferation markers revealed a significant increase at the end of treatment. Furthermore, collagen I and collagen III showed no common trend, as expressed statistically by a lack of significance. In some cases, increases in collagen III became evident at the end of treatment. Conclusions Tretinoin‐iontophoresis is an effective, noninvasive treatment of atrophic acne scars without causing disturbing side‐effects.