Journal of Isfahan Medical School

Journal of Isfahan Medical School

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Acne Scar Peeling with Salicylic Acid 30% in Polyethylene Glycol Vehicle

Document Type : Original Article (s)

Authors
Ali Asilian 1
Gita Faghihi 1
Zabihollah Shamoradi 2
Mina Saber 2
Beheshteh Pourvahedi 3
Hosein Hafezi 4
1 Professor, Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
3 Student of Medicine, Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
4 Resident, Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
10.22122/jims.v36i497.10804
Abstract
Background: Acne scar is one of the most common skin diseases, and although there are many treatments available, these treatments have complications and problems. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of acne scar pealing with salicylic acid 30% in polyethylene glycol vehicle.Methods: In this randomized clinical trial study, 32 patients with scar following acne that did not respond to medication therapy were included. Patients were divided into two groups of placebo (not treated with peeling and received only medication) and intervention (under peeling with 30% salicylic acid at polyethylene glycol vehicle for 4 sessions over a period of 6 weeks). Weighing the severity of their lesions was done before the intervention, using weighted scale, and after treatment using the quartile grading scale.Findings: There was no significant difference in the depth of the weighted scale before the intervention between the two groups (P = 0.37). After intervention, there was a significant difference between the two groups based on quartile grading scale, so that the recovery rate in the intervention group was better than placebo (P = 0.01). In the intervention group, 25% of the patients had at least one drug complication that had a significant difference with placebo group (P = 0.03).Conclusion: Salicylic acid is not only effective in the treatment of acne, but has also been used to improve the acne scar.
Keywords
Acne
Scars
Salicylic acid
Skin-peeling agents
  1. Silverberg NB, Weinberg JM. Rosacea and adult acne: A worldwide epidemic. Cutis 2001; 68(2): 85.
  2. Duraes SMB, Fonseca RR, Issa MCA. Approach in photodamaged skin, melasma, acne, and rosacea. In: Issa MCA, Tamura B, editors. Daily routine in cosmetic dermatology. New York, NY: Springer; 2017. p. 1-34.
  3. Thiboutot D. New treatments and therapeutic strategies for acne. Arch Fam Med 2000; 9(2): 179-87.
  4. Gollnick HP. From new findings in acne pathogenesis to new approaches in treatment. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2015; 29(Suppl 5): 1-7.
  5. Tutakne MA, Chari KVR. Acne, Rosacea and perioral dermatitis. In: Valia RG, Valia AR, editors. IADVL text book and Atlas of dermatology. Mumbai, India: Bhalani Publishing House; 2001. p. 689-710.
  6. Habif TP. Acne, rosacea and related disorders. In: Habif TP, editor. Clinical dermatology: A color guide to diagnosis and therapy. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016. p. 247-8.
  7. Gupta MA, Gupta AK, Schork NJ, Ellis CN, Voorhees JJ. Psychiatric aspects of the treatment of mild to moderate facial acne. Some preliminary observations. Int J Dermatol 1990; 29(10): 719-21.
  8. Purvis D, Robinson E, Merry S, Watson P. Acne, anxiety, depression and suicide in teenagers: a cross-sectional survey of New Zealand secondary school students. J Paediatr Child Health 2006; 42(12): 793-6.
  9. Gieler U, Gieler T, Kupfer JP. Acne and quality of life - impact and management. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2015; 29(Suppl 4): 12-4.
  10. Smith RN, Mann NJ, Braue A, Makelainen H, Varigos GA. A low-glycemic-load diet improves symptoms in acne vulgaris patients: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr 2007; 86(1): 107-15.
  11. Sanchez FH. Treatment of acne scars. In: Nouri K, editors. Dermatologic surgery: Step by step. Oxford, UK: Wiley-Blackwell; 2012: 197–206.
  12. Kligman D, Kligman AM. Salicylic acid peels for the treatment of photoaging. Dermatol Surg 1998; 24(3): 325-8.
  13. Imayama S, Ueda S, Isoda M. Histologic changes in the skin of hairless mice following peeling with salicylic acid. Arch Dermatol 2000; 136(11): 1390-5.
  14. Nakano M, Patel NK. Release, uptake, and permeation behavior of salicylic acid in ointment bases. J Pharm Sci. 1970; 59(7): 985-8.
  15. Clark AK, Saric S, Sivamani RK. Acne scars: How do we grade Them? Am J Clin Dermatol 2018; 19(2): 139-44.
  16. Cho SB, Lee JH, Choi MJ, Lee KY, Oh SH. Efficacy of the fractional photothermolysis system with dynamic operating mode on acne scars and enlarged facial pores. Dermatol Surg 2009; 35(1): 108-14.
  17. Dainichi T, Ueda S, Imayama S, Furue M. Excellent clinical results with a new preparation for chemical peeling in acne: 30% salicylic acid in polyethylene glycol vehicle. Dermatol Surg 2008; 34(7): 891-9.
  18. Hashimoto Y, Suga Y, Mizuno Y, Hasegawa T, Matsuba S, Ikeda S, et al. Salicylic acid peels in polyethylene glycol vehicle for the treatment of comedogenic acne in japanese patients. Dermatol Surg 2008; 34(2): 276-9.
  19. Lee HS, Kim IH. Salicylic acid peels for the treatment of acne vulgaris in Asian patients. Dermatol Surg 2003; 29(12): 1196-9.
  20. Garg VK, Sinha S, Sarkar R. Glycolic acid peels versus salicylic-mandelic acid peels in active acne vulgaris and post-acne scarring and hyperpigmentation: A comparative study. Dermatol Surg 2009; 35(1): 59-65.
  21. Roberts WE. Chemical peeling in ethnic/dark skin. Dermatol Ther 2004; 17(2): 196-205.
  22. Fabbrocini G, Annunziata MC, D'Arco V, De V, V, Lodi G, Mauriello MC, et al. Acne scars: pathogenesis, classification and treatment. Dermatol Res Pract 2010; 2010: 893080.
  23. De Padova MP, Tosti A. Types of chemical peels: Advantages/disadvantages, an illustrated algorithm. In: Tosti A., Grimes P., De Padova MP, editors. Color atlas of chemical peels. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer; 2011.
  24. Goodman GJ. Treatment of acne scarring. Int J Dermatol 2011; 50(10): 1179-94.
  25. Grimes PE. The safety and efficacy of salicylic acid chemical peels in darker racial-ethnic groups. Dermatol Surg 1999; 25(1): 18-22.
  26. Ahn HH, Kim IH. Whitening effect of salicylic acid peels in Asian patients. Dermatol Surg 2006; 32(3): 372-5.
  27. Purohit S, Meena RS, Bargujar B, Jain AK. Glycolic acid peels versus salicylic acid peels in atrophic acne scars: a randomized comparative study. Int J Multispeciality Health 2016; 2(7): 1-9.
Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 36, Issue 497 - Serial Number 497
September and October 2018
Pages 1116-1121

  • Receive Date 19 September 2018
  • Accept Date 06 April 2022