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New Study Compares Microneedling & Chemical Peels For Acne Scars In Darker Skin Tones

Author:

Hannah Frye

February 02, 2023

Assistant Beauty & Health Editor

By Hannah Frye

Assistant Beauty & Health Editor

Hannah Frye is the Assistant Beauty Editor at mindbodygreen. She has a B.S. in journalism and a minor in women’s, gender, and queer studies from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Hannah has written across lifestyle sections including health, wellness, sustainability, personal development, and more.

Image by boyloso / iStock

February 02, 2023

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Treating acne is often a difficult and frustrating process, and the scars severe breakouts leave behind can lead to even more frustration. Luckily, there are plenty of modern treatments out there that can help—including in-office treatments like chemical peels.

However, chemical peels aren't always safe for darker skin tones and may even result in hyper- or hypopigmentation. Well, a recent study 1 compared two of the most popular remedies for acne scars to find a better alternative for melanin-rich skin—here's what researchers found.

Microneedling vs. chemical peels.

In this study 1 from the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, board-certified dermatologist Babar Rao, M.D., FAAD, a professor of dermatology and pathology at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and fellow researchers randomly assigned 60 participants with acne scars and deeper skin tones to two groups.

They compared two different treatments, one being a chemical peel with 35% glycolic acid and the other a microneedling session—both administered every two weeks for 12 weeks.

In case you're unfamiliar, microneedling involves tiny sterilized needles that pierce the skin and stimulate collagen production, thus encouraging the skin to heal—in turn, the method helps reduce the appearance and depth of acne scars.

Chemical peels, on the other hand, do exactly what you'd expect—chemical exfoliants are used to remove the top layer of the skin. The skin that grows back in its place is likely smoother and free from discoloration. This helps to minimize the appearance of acne scars, too.

So what did the researchers find? Microneedling provided better treatment outcomes compared to 35% glycolic acid peels in patients with darker skin tones.

This study marks a major stride in the world of acne scar treatments: While chemical peels may still be a good option for some (if it works for you, it works!), microneedling may demonstrate even better results for acne scars, especially for those with melanin-rich skin. As always, try to chat with a dermatologist before booking any of these treatments.

The takeaway.

Chemical peels have become a popular in-office scar treatment for years but may pose serious complications for those with darker skin tones. Luckily, a recent study reveals microneedling as an even better treatment with fewer negative side effects. However, microneedling isn't without its own warnings: Check out this guide for more information on benefits, risks, and what to expect.