Treatment of acne scars using the plasma skin regeneration (PSR) system

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Acne scarring is a common and difficult to treat condition. The plasma skin regeneration (PSR) system is a novel device that causes delayed ablation of the epidermis and controlled thermal modification to the underlying dermis. PSR has previously been shown to be a safe and effective treatment for facial rhytides and benign skin lesions. In this study, we investigated the safety and efficacy of single-treatment, high-energy, double-pass PSR for the treatment of acne scarring. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients with acne scarring and Fitzpatrick skin types I-III were included in the study. All patients underwent a single PSR treatment with two high-energy passes (3.5-4.0 J). Treatments were performed in an outpatient clinic setting. Nine patients completed 6 months of follow-up. Improvement was determined by patient questionnaires and physician evaluation of digital photographs taken prior to treatment and at 3 and 6 months post-treatment. RESULTS: On average, patients reported 34% improvement in their acne scarring at 3 months and 33% improvement at 6 months. Blinded physician ratings of patient photos demonstrated 19% improvement at 3 months and 34% at 6 months. Re-epithelialization was complete by 4-6 days after treatment, and no serious adverse events were encountered. CONCLUSION: PSR appears to provide a safe and effective single treatment, minimal downtime alternative for the treatment of acne scarring. Additional studies are warranted to further demonstrate the safety and efficacy of this device.