Experts Discuss Microneedling and Acne Scar Management During Revance Virtual Deskside

Acne scarring remains a common concern even after active acne resolves, according to speakers during a virtual deskside hosted by Revance, with discussion centering on microneedling and the SkinPen device for facial acne scar treatment.

Modern Aesthetics Editorial Board member Suneel Chilukuri, MD, FAAD, FACMS, described acne scars as both physically and emotionally persistent for many patients.

“The scars actually develop because there’s going to be some type of inflammatory process that’s going on underneath the skin,” Dr. Chilukuri said during the discussion.

He explained that inflammatory acne may result in transient erythema or hyperpigmentation as well as more persistent textural changes, including rolling scars, boxcar scars, and ice-pick scars.

Historically common resurfacing procedures such as CO₂ and er:YAG lasers, he noted, may involve substantial downtime and prolonged erythema.

SKINPEN OFFERS A REGENERATIVE, NONABLATIVE ACNE SCAR OPTION

During the session, speakers described SkinPen as the first US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared microneedling device for the treatment of facial acne scars in adults. Curry Smith, Executive Marketing Director of Regenerative Aesthetics at Revance, said the device is supported by more than 90 validation studies and has been used in more than 5 million treatments.

SkinPen, Smith said, creates controlled microchannels within the skin to stimulate wound healing and collagen remodeling without the thermal injury associated with ablative procedures.

Dr. Chilukuri described microneedling as a process that initiates collagen and elastin production through controlled injury.

“Fibroblasts do all the building of collagen and elastin,” he said. “That’s what allows us to reverse some of those depressed scars that we can see with acne.”

The discussion also focused on treatment tolerability and consistency. Dr. Chilukuri referenced in-office experience comparing multiple microneedling devices and stated that patients treated with SkinPen experienced shorter downtime and fewer scratch marks compared with other devices evaluated in the practice setting.

During the question-and-answer session, Dr. Chilukuri noted that the SkinPen is not for at-home use, and he cautioned against any unregulated at-home microneedling products promoted on social media because of risks including scratching and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

However, he noted that the treatment is relatively affordable and very worthwhile.

“Early treatment of scars can reduce the number of treatments that you have,” he said.