| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2010 | Volume
: 3
| Issue : 2 | Page : 97-101 |
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Novel technology in the treatment of acne scars: The matrix-tunable radiofrequency technology
M Ramesh, MG Gopal, Sharath Kumar, Ankur Talwar
Department of Dermatology, Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital, Bangalore, India
Correspondence Address:
M Ramesh
Department of Dermatology, Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital, KR Road, VV Puram, Bangalore
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0974-2077.69021
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Background : Despite the many advances, scarring, particularly acne or pimple scarring, does not have a satisfactory treatment. A new armamentarium in this field is this recently devised matrix-tunable radiofrequency technology, which utilizes radiofrequency emission in the treatment of acne scars. Aims : To evaluate the efficiency of the new matrix-tunable radiofrequency technology in patients with acne scars of varying sizes. Settings and Design : A prospective study of 30 randomly selected patients with acne scars was carried out. Materials and Methods : Thirty healthy patients with different types of acne scars - ice pick, box and rolling type - were randomly selected. The scars were either shallow or deep, varied in size from 2 to 20 mm and ranged in number from 10 to 50. These patients were first treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics and local exfoliating agents (topical tretinoin 0.025%) and then subjected to matrix-tunable radiofrequency technology. Each scar was treated at intervals of 1 month. A maximum of four such sittings were carried out. Patients were followed-up every 15 days. Results were noted at the end of 2 months and 6 months. Improvement was assessed by using the visual analog scale (VAS) at 2 months and 6 months, and results were noted in terms of percentage improvement of the whole face by calculating an average of percentage improvement on the basis of interviews of the patient and his/her accompanying relatives. The visual analog scaling was performed by means of high-resolution digital photographs taken at the baseline and at each subsequent visit. Results : The VAS improvement in scars ranged from 10 to 50% at the end of 2 months to 20 to 70% at the end of 6 months. Of the 30 patients of acne scars, the cosmetic result was excellent (>60% improvement) in four, good (35-60% improvement) in 18 and moderate to poor (<35% improvement) in eight. A few patients reported burning sensation and a mild sunburn-like sensation for about 1 h after treatment. The patients reported a pinkish tone for 2-3 days. Importantly, with the help of some slight make up, all the 30 patients could return to work the following day. Conclusion : Matrix-tunable radiofrequency technology is a safe and economically viable option for the dermatologists for the treatment of acne scars, because of the effective results coupled with a low downtime. |
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