THURSDAY, Dec. 21 (HealthDay News) -- A new qualitative global grading system can help clinicians better describe, and ultimately treat, post-acne scarring, according to a report in the December issue of Dermatologic Surgery.
Greg J. Goodman, F.A.C.D., of the Skin and Cancer Foundation of Victoria and Monash University in Victoria, Australia, and a colleague developed a relatively easy-to-use numerical system to rate post-acne scarring, which consists of four grades. The grades are based on lesion morphologies and disease load as assessed by patient perception of severity and subdivided based on focal area of involvement.
Specifically, grade 1 refers to macular disease, grade 2 comprises mild disease, while grade 3 is moderate scarring and grade 4 is severe disease. Each grade corresponds with likely or suggested treatment options. For example, grade 1 macular disease may be treated with time, optimized home skin care, light-strength peels, microdermabrasion, vascular or pigmented lasers or intense pulsed light and excimer lasers, the researchers write.
"This description may allow better communication of disease severity between practitioners and give a lead to the most appropriate treatments for that disease severity," the study authors conclude.
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