Acne ScarsNCT02216864
Effect of Multiple Subcisions on Rolling Acne Scars
A study testing Multiple Subcision in people with Acne Scars, run by Northwestern University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to find out whether the use of multiple subcisions over several visits will improve the appearance of rolling acne scars compared to no treatment. This study was a pilot study designed to determine feasibility of this procedure. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Acne Scars
- What is being tested?
- Multiple Subcision
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 5 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Aug 2014to 8 Jun 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age 18 to 65
- Have bilateral rolling acne scars on each side of their face
- No active or ongoing acne.
- The subjects are in good health
- The subject has the willingness and the ability to understand and provide informed consent for the use of their tissue and communicate with the investigator.
Who cannot join
- Under 18 years of age
- Pregnancy or Lactation
- Subjects who are unable to understand the protocol or to give informed consent
- Subjects with mental illness
- Recent Accutane use in the past 6 months
- Subjects prone to hypertrophic and keloidal scarring
- Subjects reporting any blood diseases (HIV, Hepatitis, etc.)
- Subjects reporting a history of Herpes (oral or genital)
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology
Chicago, Illinois, 60611
About this study
Official title: Pilot Split Face Randomized, Evaluator Blinded Study on the Effect of Multiple Subcisions on Rolling Acne Scars
The purpose of this study is to find out whether the use of multiple subcisions over several visits will improve the appearance of rolling acne scars compared to no treatment.
This study was a pilot study designed to determine feasibility of this procedure.
- Conditions
- Acne Scars
- Being tested
- Multiple Subcision
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Multiple SubcisionProcedure or surgery
At the start of the procedure, a straight vitrectomy knife will be inserted subdermally and will be slowly advanced parallel to the dermis. Rapid advancement and retraction of the needle under the scarred area in a lancing motion will be performed to abrade the underside of the dermis followed by side to side sweeping motions attempting to break any fibrous attachments to the deeper tissues.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Subcision | Experimental | Subjects will receive multiple subcision treatments to their randomized side of the face 5 times total spaced 4 weeks apart. Receives: Procedure: Multiple Subcision |
| Control | No intervention | Subjects will receive no intervention control on the other side of the face. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in acne scarring compared to baseline after treatments
The change in acne scarring is measured using a quantitative global scarring grading system to compare baseline to the treatment.
Measured: Baseline and 36 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted15 Aug 2014 (estimated)
- Study startAug 2014
- Primary completion8 Jun 2024
- Study completion8 Jun 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Acne ScarsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Northwestern UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 5 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Northwestern University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Murad Alam, Northwestern University
- Investigators
- Murad Alam, MD, Principal investigator, Northwestern University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02216864
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- STU97928
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 12 Aug 2014
- Last updated
- 1 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 1 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Pilot Split Face Randomized, Evaluator Blinded Study on the Effect of Multiple Subcisions on Rolling Acne Scars
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02216864
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- STU97928
- Conditions
- Acne Scars
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 5 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Northwestern UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Aug 2014
- Primary completion
- 8 Jun 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 8 Jun 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 15 Aug 2014 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to find out whether the use of multiple subcisions over several visits will improve the appearance of rolling acne scars compared to no treatment.
This study was a pilot study designed to determine feasibility of this procedure.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Subcision | Experimental | Procedure: Multiple SubcisionSubjects will receive multiple subcision treatments to their randomized side of the face 5 times total spaced 4 weeks apart. |
| Control | No intervention | –Subjects will receive no intervention control on the other side of the face. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Age 18 to 65
- Have bilateral rolling acne scars on each side of their face
- No active or ongoing acne.
- The subjects are in good health
- The subject has the willingness and the ability to understand and provide informed consent for the use of their tissue and communicate with the investigator.
Key exclusion criteria (8 listed)
- Under 18 years of age
- Pregnancy or Lactation
- Subjects who are unable to understand the protocol or to give informed consent
- Subjects with mental illness
- Recent Accutane use in the past 6 months
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple SubcisionAt the start of the procedure, a straight vitrectomy knife will be inserted subdermally and will be slowly advanced parallel to the dermis. Rapid advancement and retraction of the needle under the scarred area in a lancing motion will be performed to abrade the underside of the dermis followed by side to side sweeping motions attempting to break any fibrous attachments to the deeper tissues. | Procedure or surgery | Multiple Subcision |
Primary outcome
Change in acne scarring compared to baseline after treatments
Time frame: Baseline and 36 weeks
The change in acne scarring is measured using a quantitative global scarring grading system to compare baseline to the treatment.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 1 Jul 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Murad Alam, MD principal investigator
Northwestern University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Multiple Subcision in people with Acne Scars, run by Northwestern University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in acne scarring compared to baseline after treatments (time frame: Baseline and 36 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 1 Jul 2026.