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Completed

NCT Number: NCT02646917

SkinPen Efficacy on Acne Scars on the Face and/or Back

This single-center, clinical trial will take place over a 90 day course followed by 1-month and 6-month post treatment visits to assess the efficacy and tolerability of the SkinPen device when used on both men and women on the face and/or back.

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Key information

Conditions

Age range

18 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Stephens & Associates

Richardson, Texas, 45081, United States

About this study

At least 20 subjects of varying Fitzpatrick skin types will be admitted to the trial for treatment on their moderate to severe acne scars on the face and/or back. Implementation of needle depths ranging from 0.25 mm to 2.0 mm will depend on severity of scars and their location. Each subject will undergo 3 treatments in 30 day increments and will take pre-treatment images as well as 1-month and 6-months post treatment images. Assessment will be based on the Goodman and Baron's grading system, the Clinician's Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale, as well as a self-assessment.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Men and women 18 to 60 years of age.
  • Subjects in good health.
  • Approximately 5 to 10 atrophic acne scars of mixed types (boxcar and/or rolling scars with some icepick scars allowed) on face and/or back that are moderate to severe.
  • Desire correction of his/her acne scarring.
  • Subjects of child bearing potential must take a urine pregnancy test and must test negative.
  • Subjects willing to sign a photography release.
  • Willingness to cooperate and participate by following study requirements.

Exclusion criteria

  • Allergies to facial or general skin care products
  • Presence of an active systemic or local skin disease.
  • Severe solar elastosis.
  • Sensitivity to topical lidocaine.
  • Recent history of significant trauma to the face (< 6 months).
  • Significant scarring other than acne scars in treated area(s).
  • Severe of cystic active and clinically significant acne on the area(s) to be treated.
  • History of systemic granulomatous diseases.
  • History of hypertrophic or keloid scars.
  • Current cancerous or pre-cancerous lesions in area(s) to be treated.
  • Had microdermabrasion or glycolic acid treatment to treatment area(s) within 1 month prior to study participation.
  • History of chronic drug or alcohol abuse.
  • Current smokers or have smoked in the last 5 years.
  • History of cosmetic treatments: Skin tightening within last year, injectable filler of any type within the last year, neurotoxins within the last 3 months, ablative resurfacing laser treatments, non-ablative, rejuvanative laser treatments in last 6 months, chemical peel, dermabrasion, non-ablative laser or fractional laser resurfacing of face and neck within the last 4 weeks.
  • History of certain prescription medications (accutane or other retinoids, topical retinoids, prescription strength skin lightening devices, anti-wrinkle, skin lightening devices, antiplatelet agents/Anticoagulants, and/or psychiatric drugs).
  • Nursing, pregnant, or planning to become pregnant during study.
  • Current or pre-existing dermatologic diseases on the face or body (psoriasis, rosacea, eczema, etc.)
  • History of immunosupression/immune deficiency disorders.
  • Current or history of uncontrolled disease such as asthma, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, etc.

Treatment and study plan

Aesthetic Microneedling Treatment

Procedure

Treatment of acne scars on the face and/or back at needle depth settings ranging between 0.25 mm to 2.0 mm, depending on severity and location of scarring.

Primary outcomes

  1. Severity of Acne Scars

    Time frame: Baseline, 1 month post treatment, and 6 months post treatment

    Goodman and Baron's Qualitative grading system. Possible scores range from 1 = mild to 4 = severe.

  2. Clinician's Global Aesthetic Improvement Assessment (CGAIS)

    Time frame: 1 month post treatment, and 6 months post treatment

    Clinician's Global Aesthetic Improvement Assessment:

    minimal score is 1- Very much improved and, maximum score is 5 -Worse: The appearance is worse than the original condition

Secondary outcomes

  1. Photo Grading of Acne Scar Assessment

    Time frame: Day 1 (Baseline), Day 30, Day 60, 1-Month post treatment and 6 Month post treatment

    Photo grading of acne scars assessment was done using the following scale [Karnik J. et al, JAAD 2014, 71 (1)]:

    Grade- Term- Description

    0 - Clear-- No depression is seen in the treatment area. Macular discoloration may be seen.

    • - Very mild- - A single depression is easily noticeable with direct lighting (deep). Most or all of the depressions seen are only readily apparent with tangential lighting (shallow).
    • - Mild-- A few to several, but less than half of all the depressions are easily noticeable with direct lighting(deep). Most of the depressions see are only readily apparent with tangential lighting (Shallow)

    3- Moderate-- More than half of the depressions are apparent with direct lighting (deep)

    4- Severe-- All or almost all the lesions can be seen with direct lighting (deep)

  2. Subject Self-Assessment Using SASIS

    Time frame: One Month Post Treatment, 6 Month Post Treatment

    Subject self-assessment was completed in 2 steps for self-assessed scar improvement scale (SASIS) and subject global aesthetic improvement scale (SGAIS):

    • Based on a live assessment (subjects were provided with a hand mirror for assessment) of the subject while referring to pre-treatment images.
    • Based on a comparison of pre-treatment images to current post-treatment images. Rating of Acne Scars
    • 1-Exacerbation of acne scars 0 No change in the appearance of acne scars
    • 1% - 25% improvement in the appearance of acne scars
    • 25% - 50% improvement in the appearance of acne scars 3-50% - 75% improvement in the appearance of acne scars 4-75% - 99% improvement in the appearance of acne scars
  3. Subject Self-Assessment Using Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (SGAIS)

    Time frame: 1-Month Post Treatment and 6- Month Post Treatment

    The following rating scale was used for SGAIS:

    Rating and Description

    • - Very much improved: Optimal cosmetic result
    • - Much improved: Marked improvement in appearance from the initial condition, but not completely optimal
    • - Improved: Obvious improvement in appearance from initial condition
    • -No change: The appearance is essentially the same as the original condition
    • - Worse: The appearance is worse than the original condition

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Bellus Medical, LLC

Industry

Registry information

Official study title

A Single-Center Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Tolerability of SkinPen on Male and Female Subjects' Acne Scars on the Face and/or Back

Important dates

Study start
2015
Primary completion
2016
Study completion
2017
First posted
Jan 6, 2016
Registry last updated
Jul 21, 2021

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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