Trial reportSkin research and technology : official journal of International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin (ISBS) [and] International Society for Digital Imaging of Skin (ISDIS) [and] International Society for Skin Imaging (ISSI)2024
Evaluation and comparison of the efficacy and safety of the combination of topical phenytoin and microneedling with microneedling alone in the treatment of atrophic acne scars: A controlled blinded randomized clinical trial.
Trial report in Skin research and technology : official journal of International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin (ISBS) [and] International Society for Digital Imaging of Skin (ISDIS) [and] International Society for Skin Imaging (ISSI), 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It has been retracted, and should not be counted. It is linked to trial NCT06942468 (Efficacy and Safety of Topical Nano Preparation of Phenytoin Plus Fractional CO2 Laser Versus Fractional CO2 Laser Alone for Treatment of Atrophic Post Acne Scars), which is not on this map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Efficacy and Safety of Topical Nano Preparation of Phenytoin Plus Fractional CO2 Laser Versus Fractional CO2 Laser Alone for Treatment of Atrophic Post Acne Scars: A Randomized Split Face Study.
Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Laser, Microneedling, and Combination Therapies for Moderate to Severe Acne Atrophic Scars: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.Aesthetic plastic surgery · 2026Pooled it
- Evaluation and comparison of the efficacy and safety of the combination of topical phenytoin and microneedling with microneedling alone in the treatment of atrophic acne scars: A controlled blinded randomized clinical trial.Skin research and technology : official journal of International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin (ISBS) [and] International Society for Digital Imaging of Skin (ISDIS) [and] International Society for Skin Imaging (ISSI) · 2024Trial
- Microneedling for Non-cosmetic Dermatologic Conditions: A Systematic Review of Efficacy and Safety.Cureus · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
- Retraction · 2025-09-14Compromised Peer Review · Concerns/Issues about Data · Duplication of/in Image · Investigation by Journal/Publisher · Objections by Author(s) ·
- Retracted
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionSevere acne breakouts often lead to atrophic acne scars, which affect millions of people worldwide and can significantly affect a person's self-confidence and self-image. Given the difficulty in treating atrophic acne scars, this study aims to investigate the efficacy of topical phenytoin in the treatment of atrophic acne scars.
methodThis split face clinical trial on 25 patients between the ages of 18 and 40 involved the application of microneedling on one side of the face, with three sessions taking place over the course of a month. On the other side, a 1% phenytoin cream was administered three times daily for 1 week following the microneedling procedure. Baseline information was collected for all patients, and follow-up assessments were conducted during the treatment sessions and 2 months after the last session. The assessments included evaluating the number and area of pores and spots, determining scar severity, assessing patient satisfaction, and recording any potential complications.
resultsAmong patients, 20 individuals (80%) were females, and the average age of the participants was 35.96 ± 9.23. In terms of the fine pore area, despite the fine pore count, both groups showed improvement over time (p: 0.03 vs. 0.06). Also, regarding large pore count and area, and the count and area of spots, both groups showed improvement over time (p: 0.001). However, there were no significant differences between the two groups (p > 0.05). On the other hand, when it comes to acne scar grade and patients' satisfaction, the phenytoin group outperformed the control group in all follow-up sessions and this difference was found to be significant (p: 0.001). It is worth noting that no complications were observed among any of the patients.
conclusionIt appears that combining phenytoin cream with microneedling has a more effective therapeutic outcome in enhancing atrophic acne scars, when compared to microneedling alone, and this method can be regarded as a viable alternative in treating these types of scars.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.