Efficacy of Saline Injection Therapy in Atrophic Acne Scars
Efficacy of Saline Injection Therapy in Atrophic Acne Scars
The purpose of the study was to determine the efficacy of saline injection in post-acne
 atrophic scars on face. All patients with mild, moderate & severe post-acne atrophic scars,
 above age of 15 years without any co-morbid conditions were included in the study. After
 giving local anesthesia, the isotonic saline solution has been administered intra- and
 sub-dermally in post-acne atrophic scars on face. The sessions were done weekly, for 12
 weeks. The results were assessed by the photographs, sharquie scoring system & Dermatology
 Life Quality Index score at the start and at the end of the treatment. SPSS 23 was used to
 analyze the data. The analysis of data showed that the response of saline injection was
 significant in mild and moderate scars, without any significant side effects.
The study was conducted for the determination of saline injection effectiveness in post-acne
 atrophic scars in patients referred to the department of dermatology in Jinnah postgraduate
 medical centre, Karachi, Pakistan from January 2019 to July 2019, after receiving approval
 letter from the institutional ethical and research committee of the hospital.

 Forty-nine patients were selected after calculating the sample size through the NCSS
 software. The patients were selected with the age ranging from 15-35years of either gender,
 after excluding hypertension, cardiovascular disorders, pregnancy, lactation &
 hypersensitivity to lidocaine. The procedure has been explained to each patient & written
 consent was taken. Before starting treatment, the photographs were taken for each patient
 with their permission & sharquie scoring system for grading scars and Dermatology Life
 Quality Index scores were calculated.

 During each session, after all sterilization techniques, patient has been pain-free with the
 application of local anesthesia, then 0.9% isotonic saline is injected intra- and
 sub-dermally in post-acne atrophic scars with 1cc syringe of 30-gauge needles, on both sides
 of face. The volume of saline injected depends upon the numbers, width and depth of the
 individual scars. It has been injected up to scar elevation by overfilling with saline &
 spreading into surrounding tissue as well.

 A total of 12 sessions were done weekly. The efficacy of treatment has been assessed by
 comparing photographs, sharquie scoring system for grading scars and Dermatology Life Quality
 Index scores at the start and at the end of treatment.

 The sharquie scoring system for grading scars has been calculated through assessing number of
 scars, proportion of the area of the face involved, morphology of scars including color or
 type and social behavior of the patient. The final scores obtained by adding all scores, were
 compared with the initial ones, at the end of treatment.

 The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) has been calculated through simple questionnaire,
 consisting of 10 questions related to the effect of disease and its treatment on the daily
 activities of patient and the impact on the social behavior of the patient towards friends
 and relatives. DLQI scores has been interpreted, regarding the effect on patients' life as
 follows:

 -  0-1 = No effect

 -  2-5 = Small effect

 -  6-10 = Moderate effect

 -  11-20 = Very large effect

 -  21-30 = Extremely large effect

 At the end of treatment, results were compared to assess the improvement in everyday
 activities and social behaviors of the patients.

 The evaluation of result was done by SPSS version 23. The side effects were also assessed
 regarding erythema, itching , pain & dys-pigmentation.

 In this study three patients of post-acne atrophic scars also had atrophic scars due to
 trauma in the childhood, on their face. On the request of the patients, these scars were also
 filled with saline injection, in addition to their post-acne atrophic scars.

 During treatment, change in the post-acne pigmentation, skin tightening, eruption of new acne
 lesions, healing of old lesions has also been observed.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Minimum age 15years

 -  Maximum age 35 years

 -  Both males and females with mild, moderate and severe post-acne atrophic scars on
 face.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Hypertension

 -  Cardiovascular disorders

 -  Pregnancy

 -  Lactation

 -  Hypersensitivity to lidocaine.