Lasers, dermabrasion, and subdermal incision are all used to treat various types of acne scars. However, these treatments are generally unable to completely erase the depressed area at the center of deep atrophic scars (pockmarks). Various types of fillers have been used in the past to raise the skin back to its normal level by plumping up the underlying tissue. However, the injectable substances used are absorbed by the body over time. This means follow up sessions are required for ongoing maintenance. Now, an initial study has been published showing that Artefill can be used to treat acne scarring with long lasting results.

Pilot Study Yields Promising Results

The Suneva Medical study involved the treatment of 14 male and female patients aged 18-60. These individuals were selected based on having the type of acne scars that would typically be treated with injectable fillers. They were otherwise in good health. Evaluators noted a visible improvement for over 95% of the patients involved. Most of these patients experienced a significant reduction in the appearance of their acne scars. All of them reported a high level of satisfaction with the procedure and none reported any adverse effects. All but one of the patients agreed that they would have no problem undergoing this type of treatment again. The current follow up data showed that the results lasted through the 8 month mark. The patients will be monitored for a full 3 years to further evaluate the safety and continued effectiveness of Artefill.

More Details on Artefill

This injectable dermal filler is advertised as containing “micro-sphere” enhanced collagen. Its structure is designed to resist the body’s attempts to break down the foreign material in the filler. As with other injectables, there is a risk of allergic reaction. Since Artefill is intended for use as a permanent filler, a sustained adverse reaction at the injection site could be very difficult to treat. Patients are required to undergo a skin allergy test a month before their treatment session to rule out the possibility of an allergic reaction to the collagen used in the Artefill formula.

The treatment process itself may cause mild discomfort. However, Lidocaine is included in the injection to aid in numbing the area. Swelling and redness are common but minor side effects of this procedure. Typically, a treatment plan involves several sessions to achieve the desired result in stages without overfilling. In the case of acne scars, a patient wouldn’t want to end up with a protrusion where a pockmark used to be. So, this staged approach for very deep scars may be the ideal solution. This is determined on a case by case basis during a dermatological consultation.