Objective analysis of volume restoration in atrophic acne scars and skin pores: a split study using human stem cell-conditioned media

Background: It is anticipated that the combined treatments of ablative laser and human stem cell-conditioned media produce the synergistic effects. Objectives: To investigated the effects of human stem cell-conditioned media (HSCM) as a post-procedural agent after fractional CO₂ laser procedure in patients with atrophic acne scars and skin pores. Method: Both cheeks of 15 subjects were treated with a fractional CO₂ laser. HSCM was randomly applied to one of the resurfacing sites (T) and normal saline was applied to the other site as a control (C). During the next six days, a solution containing 80% HSCM and hyaluronic acid (HA) was applied on the treated side (T) and HA alone was applied to the control side (C). Scar volume and erythema were objectively evaluated using an Antera 3D^® CS. Result: After two months, the scar volume was reduced by 23.5% (T) versus 15.0% (C) (p =.143) and the volume of the skin pores was reduced by 37.6% (T) versus 15.9% (C) (p =.006), while the erythema was increased by 2.8% (T) versus 3.1% (C) (p =.934). Atrophic scar and the skin pores in the HSCM-applied area improved by at least 15.0% after a single treatment session, suggesting better results compared with the control side. Conclusion: HSCM may augment the regenerative effects of fractional CO₂ laser.