Combined Effect of Microneedling and Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Acne Scars: A Meta-Analysis

The meta-analysis evaluated the combined treatment of microneedling and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for atrophic acne scars, pooling results from 14 studies (4 RCTs and 10 non-randomized studies) involving 472 patients. The results showed that the combined treatment was more effective than microneedling alone, with increased odds of significant clinical improvement (OR: 2.97, 95% CI: 1.96 to 4.51, p < 0.001), improved mean Goodman's qualitative scale (GQS) score, and higher patient satisfaction. The incidence of severe adverse events was not significantly different between the two treatment groups. The study concluded that combined treatment with microneedling and PRP is more effective and equally safe as microneedling alone in treating atrophic acne scars, but called for large-scale RCTs for further confirmation.