NCT03170596

Brief Summary

Post acne scarring is a common complication of acne. Cosmetic appearance of the post acne facial scarring can be improved by various methods. Among the procedural methods microneedling (1) is a novel and a promising option. It is a minimally invasive day care procedure for the management of atrophic acne scars. Topical tazarotene 0.1% gel is an effective medical method in the management of acne vulgaris and macular acne scars (2, 3). Based on its mechanism of action and role in collagen synthesis, topical tazarotene is a logical choice to investigate for the management of atrophic post acne scars. This is a pilot study comparing microneedling and topical tazarotene for the treatment of atrophic post acne scarring in regard to extent and rapidity of improvement, patient satisfaction and any adverse events if any. Thirty six subjects with grade 2 to grade 4 atrophic post acne scars, classified on the basis of Goodman's Qualitative classification (4) criteria will be recruited. Goodman's qualitative and quantitative acne scarring grading system scoring will be performed for the assessment of severity of acne scarring at baseline. The face of each patient will be randomized for monthly microneedling on one side and topical tazarotene 0.1 % gel once a day local application on opposite side, using computer generated random number table. Follow ups will be done at every month until treatment completion (3 months) and 3 months after the last treatment session. Goodman's qualitative and quantitative acne scarring grading system scoring will be performed at 3rd and 6th month follow up visits. An improvement by two grades will be considered as excellent, one grade will be rated as good and no up gradation will be labelled as poor response. Patients will be also assessed by a blinded observer for clinical improvement and scored on a scale of 0 (no improvement) to 10 (maximum) at 3rd and 6th month follow up visits with the help of serial photographs taken under consistent background, position and lighting. All patients will be instructed to assess themselves using Patients' Global Assessment Score 0 (no response) to 10 (maximum) at 3rd and 6th month follow up visits. The investigators hope the outcome of the present study may propose a newer medical modality for acne scarring, i.e topical tazarotene 0.1% gel, which can be used at home, obviating the need for physician dependant microneedling procedure.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
36

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Jun 2017

Shorter than P25 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

May 26, 2017

Completed
5 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

May 31, 2017

Completed
2 days until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

June 2, 2017

Completed
9 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

February 28, 2018

Completed
29 days until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

March 29, 2018

Completed
Last Updated

April 4, 2018

Status Verified

April 1, 2018

Enrollment Period

9 months

First QC Date

May 26, 2017

Last Update Submit

April 3, 2018

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Acne scar severity grade at final visit

    Change in acne scar severity grade from baseline and at 6 months

    6 months

Secondary Outcomes (3)

  • Acne scar severity grade at final visit at 3 months

    3 months

  • Patient satisfaction

    6 months

  • Adverse events

    6 months

Study Arms (2)

Tazarotene gel arm

EXPERIMENTAL

The treatment protocol in this arm will consist of night time application of Tazarotene 0.1% gel during the entire study period. (3 months)

Drug: tazarotene gel 0.1%

Microneedling arm

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The treatment protocol in this arm will consist of four sessions of microneedling at monthly intervals. (0, 1, 2, 3 months)

Device: Microneedling

Interventions

Patients will be instructed to apply 0.1% tazarotene gel as a thin film over the affected area once daily in the evening.

Tazarotene gel arm

Microneedling is a method of percutaneous collagen induction

Microneedling arm

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Patients with grade 2 to grade 4 atrophic acne scars, classified on the basis of Goodman's Qualitative classification.6
  • Should not have undergone any surgical and/or laser treatment for acne scars in the past 1 year.

You may not qualify if:

  • Active acne
  • History of keloidal tendency/hypertrophic or keloidal scarring on the face due to acne
  • Facial scars due to reasons other than acne like varicella, trauma, burns etc
  • Collagen vascular disease, bleeding disorders
  • Any active bacterial , fungal or viral infection over face
  • Pregnant and lactating females
  • Known hypersensitivity to tazarotene
  • Age less than 18 years
  • Patients on anticoagulant therapy or aspirin

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Dermatology OPD, New OPD Building, Level 5C, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research

Chandigarh, 160012, India

Location

Related Publications (5)

  • Doddaballapur S. Microneedling with dermaroller. J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2009 Jul;2(2):110-1. doi: 10.4103/0974-2077.58529.

    PMID: 20808602BACKGROUND
  • Webster GF, Guenther L, Poulin YP, Solomon BA, Loven K, Lee J. A multicenter, double-blind, randomized comparison study of the efficacy and tolerability of once-daily tazarotene 0.1% gel and adapalene 0.1% gel for the treatment of facial acne vulgaris. Cutis. 2002 Feb;69(2 Suppl):4-11.

    PMID: 12095066BACKGROUND
  • Phillips TJ, Gottlieb AB, Leyden JJ, Lowe NJ, Lew-Kaya DA, Sefton J, Walker PS, Gibson JR; Tazarotene Cream Photodamage Clinical Study Group. Efficacy of 0.1% tazarotene cream for the treatment of photodamage: a 12-month multicenter, randomized trial. Arch Dermatol. 2002 Nov;138(11):1486-93. doi: 10.1001/archderm.138.11.1486.

    PMID: 12437455BACKGROUND
  • Goodman GJ, Baron JA. Postacne scarring: a qualitative global scarring grading system. Dermatol Surg. 2006 Dec;32(12):1458-66. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-4725.2006.32354.x.

    PMID: 17199653BACKGROUND
  • Afra TP, Razmi T M, Narang T, Dogra S, Kumar A. Topical Tazarotene Gel, 0.1%, as a Novel Treatment Approach for Atrophic Postacne Scars: A Randomized Active-Controlled Clinical Trial. JAMA Facial Plast Surg. 2019 Mar 1;21(2):125-132. doi: 10.1001/jamafacial.2018.1404.

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Percutaneous Collagen Induction

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Complementary TherapiesTherapeuticsPhysical Therapy ModalitiesPuncturesRehabilitation

Study Officials

  • Tarun Narang, MD

    Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India

    STUDY CHAIR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Masking Details
An independant senior dermatologist who is blinded regarding the modality used for atrophic acne scarring in each half of the face, will be assessing the outcome scores.
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Model Details: Microneedling procedure will be done on one half of the face and patients will be instructed to apply tazarotene 0.1% gel on the other half of the face
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

May 26, 2017

First Posted

May 31, 2017

Study Start

June 2, 2017

Primary Completion

February 28, 2018

Study Completion

March 29, 2018

Last Updated

April 4, 2018

Record last verified: 2018-04

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations