Stem Cell for Acne Scars offers a cutting-edge solution in the world of dermatology. Acne affects 80% of young adults, often leaving scars that impact self-esteem. Stem Cell for Acne Scars harnesses the body's natural healing power, promising effective scar reduction. This innovative approach not only treats scars but also revitalizes skin health. Join us as we explore how this therapy is changing lives.
Overview—Acne Scars
Acne is a common inflammatory disorder of the skin that occurs when the hair follicles of our skin get clogged. It is usually seen on our faces, but a few people also get acne on their back, shoulders, and chest.
When acne blemishes become inflamed, they lead to acne scars.
So, what causes these acne scars?
When our bodies try to heal acne, sometimes there is an anomaly in the formation of tissue. Too much or too little collagen formation results in these scars.
Your dermatologist is the best person to diagnose these scars. They will conduct a visual examination. There are several scales to determine the severity of your acne as well.
Do you have acne scars?
Do not worry! A new treatment for acne scars, called “Stem Cell Therapy” has shown great potential in treating acne scars.
This might have made you excited to learn about this new and wonderful treatment, right?
So, here you go!
This article covers everything you need to know about “Stem Cell For Acne Scars”.
First, let's begin by understanding what exactly is a stem cell.
Stem Cell for Acne Scars
Are you wondering just what exactly are stem cells?
Stem cells are immature cells found in our bodies that can differentiate into any type of tissue.
When researchers discovered these cells, they began applying them in the treatment of acne scars, which currently do not have any permanent treatment.
Stem cell therapy for acne scars is still undergoing clinical trials and is not FDA-approved.
However, it is absolutely safe and no long-term side effects have been reported by any clinical trials so far.
Stem Cell Acne Scars Clinical Trials
At present, several clinical trials for stem cell acne scar treatment are underway all over the world. They have all shown promising results.
A clinical study by Ruchee Phonchai et al concluded that stem cell treatment can clear acne scars by 80 to 100%.
Isn’t that amazing?
Can Stem Cell Fix Acne Scars?
The short answer is, yes it can.
But let us take the longer route and understand a little bit more about how stem cells fix acne scars.
Stem cells have several useful properties. The most prominent one is repair and regeneration. When stem cells are introduced into our bodies, they repair damaged cells and form new ones to replace dead cells.
Acne scars are basically caused by an imbalance in collagen production—it is either too much or too little. Stem cells fix this issue.
Additionally, stem cells also have anti-inflammatory properties. This means they reduce the chances of any future flare-ups of your acne, which could lead to acne scars.
Types of Stem Cells Used in Treating Acne Scars
Did you know we have several types of stem cells present in our bodies?
It’s true!
They are found in our bone marrow, the fatty tissue of the abdomen, and even in our circulating blood.
Stem cells derived from the bone marrow are commonly used to treat acne scars, while those derived from fatty tissue have been used in a smaller number of cases.
All clinical studies prefer using the patient’s own stem cells for this treatment, rather than using donor cells.
A few studies have also used umbilical stem cells. However, they are not easily available and the results are the same as bone marrow-derived stem cells.
Benefits and Risks of Stem Cell for Acne Scars
Like every medical procedure, even this one has its own risks and benefits.
| BENEFITS | RISKS |
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Don’t the benefits outweigh the risks?
Who Are Eligible for Stem Cell Acne Scars?
Are you wondering, “How do I know if I am eligible for stem cell for acne scars treatment?”
Each clinical study has its own set of stringent requirements, and your dermatologist is the best person to walk you through them.
However, we have made a list of basic criteria to get you started:
- Severe acne scars should be present
- All other treatments should have failed
- No history of any organ transplants should be present
- No history of any auto-immune disease should be present
Types of Acne Scars Treated With Stem Cells
Acne scars are of two types, and both of them have been successfully treated with stem cells. However, the mechanism differs slightly in both types.
Let’s take a look.
| Type of Acne Scars | Mechanism of Stem Cells |
| 1. Atrophic scars |
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| 2. Hypertrophic scars |
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Procedure of Stem Cells for Acne Scars
Are you concerned that you will have to undergo a long, painful procedure to treat your acne scars?
Breathe!
Stem cell acne scar treatment is done in three simple and short steps.
| Step 1: Extraction of Stem Cells |
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| Step 2: Preparation of Stem Cells |
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| Step 3: Stem Cell Transplantation |
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As you can see, the whole treatment only takes about eight or nine hours.
However, it is usually done over two days for better convenience.
What to Expect After Stem Cell for Acne Scars?
Well, the procedure is done now.
Do you think it will take weeks for you to recover?
Not at all!
The recovery period of stem cell treatment is very short. You can resume your daily activities in a couple of days.
You will be asked to stay out of harsh sunlight for a couple of weeks. Other than this, you can easily go on with your daily life.
Right after the procedure, you might feel some tenderness on your skin. This is normal and subsides on its own in a few days.
You will also be glad to know that no clinical study in over a decade has reported any long-term side effects. This procedure is completely safe.
Results
Eager to find out how quickly you will see stem cells for acne scars results?
Most people see visible results in two to three weeks. However, it takes about three months to reach peak results.
The stem cells continue to form new cells and repair damaged ones for up to a year after the stem cell treatment. So, you can expect to see a steady improvement even beyond the first three months of your treatment.
While these results are not permanent, patients have shown sustained improvement even at their three-year follow-up appointments.
Since the treatment is still undergoing clinical trials, long-term follow-up data is still not easily available.
Success Rates of Stem Cell for Acne Scars
As we already know, several clinical trials are simultaneously underway around the world. Due to this reason, it is very difficult to arrive at an exact number when we talk about success rates.
However, if we analyze the scattered data, we see a success rate of over 90% at present.
Yes, you read that right!
The studies measure the success rates with visible scales like the Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI).
It is also a good time to note that these success rates have been observed in all types of acne scars.
Cost of Stem Cell Acne Scars
Now let’s answer the most crucial and common question that comes in the minds of those planning to undergo the treatment!
Yes, you guessed it right!
It is “What is the cost of the treatment?”
The cost of stem cell treatment depends on several factors including the severity of the scarring and the place you decide to get your treatment.
In India, the cost of stem cell therapy is 4000 to 5000 USD. In comparison, the same treatment costs upward of 25,000 USD in the US!
Since this treatment is not approved by the FDA, it is not yet covered by any medical insurance company.
A Research Explaining Present and Future Scope and Challenges of Stem Cell Acne Scars
Stem cell has shown promising results in treating acne scars so far. However, a few challenges still remain before it can become a popular mainstream treatment.
A review article by Hongbo Chen et al, which was published in the Frontiers Journal, talks about this in a little more detail.
At present, more clinical data is required to achieve predictable results in treating acne scars. Several tweaks are also required to make it affordable as a conventional medical treatment option.
There is also some debate about which type of stem cells are the best option for treating acne scars. Despite all these hurdles, researchers agree that stem cell treatment holds the key to fixing acne scars in the most non-invasive way possible.
So, are you ready to get stem cell treatment for acne scars?
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