Chemabrasion Sheikhing Treatment of Difficult Acne and Acne Scarring

Objective

The main objective of chemabrasion is to cause permanent reduction of SG and smoothen the scarred skin without any damage to the skin of face. In fact, it is difficult to target SG as they are lying deep in the skin. Neither MD alone can affect the SG nor the chemical peel alone can do so. The crystal MD safely removes the wellprepared dried skin of face and leaves the mouths of the follicular canals wide open, so the chemical peel applied on the abraded skin gets easily absorbed into the depth of follicles to target SG and parts of the pilo-sebaceous apparatus.

The Survey of literature describes MD and chemical peel used separately but not exactly similarly study known with this object. Some books described methods near to this include:

1. Savant S.S. Textbook of dermatosurgery [5]

2. Padilla RS: Cutaneous surgery [6]

3. Brody H: Mosby yearbook [7]

4. R. Marks: SKIN THERAPY [8]

5. Stephen H. Mandy: SKIN THERAPY [9]

Main References which inspired to evolve this technique are from the book ‘ACNE’ by William J. Cunliffe’.

Methods

A total of 100 acne patients were treated in this study including 13 males and 87 females of 15 years and above (Table 1). A study performa was designed to record patients details, severity of acne and follow-up details.

Table 1:

Inclusion Criteria

a. Willing patients only and otherwise healthy

b. No concomitant infection

c. Those patients who had failure after conventional treatment

d. All patients within COOK’S grading scale 2-8 [10], using standard photographic records.

Exclusion Criteria

i. Pregnancy (Risks not known)

ii. Chloracne

iii. Patients having contact dermatitis

iv. Rosacea

v. Topical allergy to chemical peeler

1. All patients had comedones and pustules, 25 had cysts (Cook’s grading 2-8).

2. All patients gave history of temporary relief with previous treatments but all had recurrence after few weeks.

3. All had variable post Inflammatory Pigmentation and scarring. We also noted amount of vellus hair.

Pre-Procedure Treatment

a. Photos of all patients were taken at the start and during treatment sessions to access the severity of acne and to evaluate the results of chemabrasion.

b. All patients prepared with topical retinoid lotion applied twice a day for 5-7 days. This caused intense dryness of face skin which is mandatory for effective abrasion (Figure 1).

Figure 1:Pre-Procedure preparation with topical retinoid lotion for intense dryness.

c. Sensitivity test performed for JS.

d. All patients given detailed information about chemabrasion and consent taken.

e. No anaesthesia was used as the procedure is almost painless.

Treatment given

Every patients had 4 chemabrasion sessions for active acne and for those having scarring 2 additional sessions were done. Sessions were spaced 10 to 15 days. During each session MD was done followed by immediate chemical peeling. During each session MD was performed with crystal peel and vacuum system using aluminum oxide crystals. MD was done either as localized disc removal or linear pattern (Figure 2). It was almost painless with complete evacuation of comedones and pustules (Figure 3).

Figure 2: a) MD: thin discs of skin removed over acne and scars, b) Linear MD removing superficial skin layers, c) MD: visibly removing skin in flakes and very thin sheets.

Figure 3:Crystal peel and vacuum system evacuating the waxy horny plugs (the comedones).

Figure 4: Chemical peeling immediately done on abraded skin till visible frosting. The figures clearly show the JS selectively absorbed through the abraded opened follicular mouths.

Area was cooled with ice pack and chemical peel applied. We used JS as chemical peeler for this study. JS was applied for 30 to 60 seconds till visible frosting (Figure 4). Burning was controlled with cold saline wipes. Topical antibiotic prescribed for twice daily use. Most patients healed in 2 to 3 days.

The Results

After each treatment session we noted the number of new lesions, greasiness of skin, hyper pigmentation, open pores and scars.

To evaluate the results, we suggested a Result Criteria as following:

a. Complete response (80–100%) no or rare new lesions in next 12 months, no more cysts, obvious decrease in SER.

b. Partial response (50-80%) few small size lesions (4-5 per month), healed fast without pigmentation or scarring, no cysts, SER decreased.

c. No response (<50%) new lesions continued as before, cysts+, SER same.

Our Results

1. Complete Response in 77 Patients (77%)

2. Partial Response in 23 Patients (23%)

3. No Response in 0 Patients (0%)

All patients had remarkable improvement. It means chemabrasion is a safe and very effective treatment for acne and acne scarring (Table 2).

Table 2:

Discussion

How does chemabrasion works?

The main point is that crystal abrasion produces controlled removal of dried-up superficial skin layers in successive sessions and the JS absorbed through opened follicles attacks SG. This can be proved if we measure the SER before and after the treatment [11]. So investigations of SER are very important for understanding the physiology of SG and efficacy of this treatment ‘chemabrasion’.

Different methods available to measure the SER are:

Direct assessment

1. Surface Microscopy at 50X

Indirect assessment:

1. Lipophilic Stain

2. Lipometer

3. Planimetry: Analysing SG size (radio labeled, lanthanum)

4. Absorbent paper technique

We used absorbent paper technique [12]. This is random collection of lipid from the skin of forehead, which is SEP (Sebum Excretion and Production) since last washed. Here absorbent paper is applied to the skin of the forehead for a timed period, usually 3 hours and the collected sebum is accessed by oil on absorbant paper (Figure 5). Alternatively, the patient’s remarks about change in greasy skin are recorded (author’s suggestion).

Figure 5:The Absorbant Paper Technique to Access The SEP.

The criticism and further discussion

Positive:

a. This method of treating difficult acne is a new hypothesis and original work of the author.

b. A good objective as acne is damaging large number of faces causing severe psychological trauma.

c. It was done on good number of patient.

d. The procedure and clinical observations were done by one person only

e. Though topical and oral medicines (including antibiotics and retinoids) are effective in good percentage but toxic, costly and recurrence is common. So this alternative treatment approach is available to avoid toxic medication

f. Follow-up duration has been long enough 12-18 moths

g. All patients filled an evaluation performa and recorded their remarks about the procedure and the results

Negative:

Proper quantitative investigations of SER needed to prove our observations like:

a) Extraction Cup Technique with organic solvent

b) Lipid absorbent tape (SEBO TAPE) for timed collection

c) Further work needed to have scientific grounds, perhaps a biopsy?

d) Perhaps further experience or modification in technique can make it more useful and brief

While performing this study clinical photography was done regularly of all patients. Procedure videos of some patients were made and are available with the author for further reference.

Following are photos of some of our acne patients treated during this study with this procedure ‘CHEMABRASION SHEIKHING’. The difference in the before and after photos clearly proves the efficacy of this technology.

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Shehla Bajwa, Hamed Qayyum and Hamd Iftikhar for their untiring efforts in making this study.

Conflict of interest

There is no conflict of interest and no financial assistance.

References

• R. Marks ‘Roxburgh’s common skin diseases’ 16th edn, pp. 147.
• WJ Cunliffe ‘ACNE’ 1st edition: 1989, pp. 137-140.
• WJ Cunliffe ‘ACNE’ 1st edition: 1989, pp. 250.
• WJ Cunliffe ‘ACNE’ 1st edition: 1989, pp. 102.
• Savant Sz Textbook of dermatosurgery. (1st edn) Ch. 73, Surgery for active acne, pp. 366-371.
• Padilla RS: Dermabrasion, Cutaneous surgery (1st edn).
• Brody H: Chemical peeling, Mosby yearbook 1992, (1st edn).
• R. Marks: SKIN THERAPY CH. ‘Treatment of difficult acne’.
• Stephen H. Mandy: SKIN THERAPY CH. ‘Dermabrasion’.
• Wj Cunliffe ‘ACNE’ 1st edition: 1989, pp. 118.
• Wj Cunliffe ‘ACNE’ 1st edition: 1989, pp. 123.
• Wj Cunliffe ‘ACNE’ 1st edition: 1989, pp. 12.