Topical Tazarotene Gel, 0.1%, as a Novel Treatment Approach for Atrophic Postacne Scars

Abstract

IMPORTANCE Evidence is robust for the effectiveness of microneedle therapy in the management of postacne atrophic scarring. A home-based topical treatment with an efficacy comparable to microneedling would be a useful addition in the armamentarium of acne scar management. OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy of topical tazarotene gel, 0.1%, with microneedling therapy in the management of moderate to severe atrophic acne scars. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Prospective, observer-blinded, active-controlled, randomized clinical trial with 6 months of follow-up conducted between June 2, 2017, and February 28, 2018, at a tertiary care hospital in India. Thirty-six patients with grade 2 to 4 facial atrophic postacne scars and without a history of procedural treatment of acne scars within the previous year were recruited. Analyses were conducted using data from the evaluable population. INTERVENTIONS Both halves of each participant's face were randomized to receive either microneedling or topical tazarotene therapy. Microneedling was conducted on 1 side of the face with a dermaroller having a needle length of 1.5 mm for a total of 4 sessions during the course of 3 months. Participants were instructed to apply topical tazarotene gel, 0.1%, to the other side of the face once every night during this same period. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Patients were followed up at 3 and 6 months by a blinded observer, and improvements in acne scar severity based on Goodman and Baron quantitative and qualitative scores and a subjective independent dermatologist score (range, 0-10, with higher scores indicating better improvement) were assessed. Patient satisfaction was assessed using a patient global assessment score (ranging from 0 for no response to 10 for maximum improvement) at these follow-up visits. RESULTS There were 36 participants (13 men and 23 women; mean [range] age, 23.4 [18-30] years), and the median (interquartile range [IQR]) duration of acne was 6 (4-8) years. For the 34 participants included in the complete data analyses, the median (IQR) quantitative score for acne scar severity at the 6-month follow-up visit following treatment with either tazarotene (from a baseline of 8.

Selective RAR agonists for acne vulgaris: A narrative review

“…Tazarotene 0.1% gel has proven to be a novel modality in treating atrophic postacne scarring, and the results were comparable to microneedle therapy in terms of efficacy and safety, as observed in a split‐faced comparison study. Thus, it could also serve as an excellent maintenance therapy in acne . Combination therapy of 0.1% tazarotene gel with a fixed 1% clindamycin/5% benzoyl peroxide gel has shown greater efficacy than monotherapy with either of the components in a comparison study.…”

Evidence-based surgical management of post-acne scarring in skin of color

“…[ 35 ] All types of atrophic scars tend to improve (in the range of 50%–60%) with microneedling to a variable grade. [ 36 ] Afra et al [ 37 ] found the efficacy of microneedling comparable to that of topical tazarotene 0.1% after four treatment sessions. Microneedling has been found to be inferior to Er:yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) laser in a split face trial by Osman et al [ 38 ]…”

Polymeric Microneedle Arrays: Versatile Tools for an Innovative Approach to Drug Administration

“…[47,48] Different research groups recently published the effects of MNs on dermatological problems such as scars and keloids. [49,50] In both cases, the self-administration and painlessness of MNs greatly improved the efficacy of treatments. Exhaustive reviews on dermatological studies involving humans can also be found in the recent literature.…”

“…Dissolvable but also permanent, MNs have been demonstrated to be well tolerated and easy to use . Different research groups recently published the effects of MNs on dermatological problems such as scars and keloids . In both cases, the self‐administration and painlessness of MNs greatly improved the efficacy of treatments.…”