Treatment of Atrophic Acne Scars of the Face with Plasma Radiofrequency Ablation

Introduction: Acne vulgaris is a very common chronic inflamma- tory disease of the pilosebaceous units, usually starting in adoles- cence and often leading to serious complications such as fibrosis and scarring. Atrophic acne scars of the face are a permanent dis- figuring sequela with negative effects on psychological well-being and a significant impact on quality of life. Their treatment is com- plex and conventional approaches such as dermabrasion, chemi- cal peels, dermal filler injections, or autologous fat transfer, have poor effects. Laser treatments may be used as alternative thera- pies, however, post treatment collateral effects such as persistent erythema, hyperpigmentation, prolonged healing times, infections, and even worsening of scarring, limit their application, especially for Fitzpatrick skin type III and IV. The demand for best results asso- ciated with minimally invasive and safe technology, and less down- time for the treatment of atrophic scars has stimulated the search for novel therapeutic strategies. Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of plasma radiofrequency ablation (PRF) in the treatment of atrophic acne scars of the face performed with DAS Medical device (Technolux). Methods: Ten patients affected by aesthetically unpleasant atro- phic acne scars were enrolled for PRF ablation treatments. Results: A significant aesthetical improvement was observed af- ter three PRF ablation sessions of treatment for all patients, which showed a reduction of the visibility and depth of the scars. Conclusions: Plasma radiofrequency ablation technique can be considered a good option to meet the need for less invasive and safe technology for the treatment of atrophic acne scars.