Current approaches for assessment of acne scars are subjective. We aimed to evaluate the reliability and feasibility of a new objective stereoscopic optical system for atrophic acne scars cumulative depth and monitoring therapeutic response.
This retrospective case study aimed to validate accuracy and present initial data of a new, simple, non-contact, high-resolution 3D stereoscopic optical imaging system (Cherry Imaging, Yokneam, Israel) in the setting of acne scarring. Feasibility of the system was assessed by monitoring the cumulative depth of atrophic acne scars after a single treatment by means of various approaches. investigator’s Qualitative Scarring Grading Score (QSGS) and patient’s Self-Assessment of Clinical Acne-Related Scars (SCARS) were also calculated before and four weeks after the intervention.
Scar depth measured by the imaging system correlated significantly with the actual depth of printed surface depressions. The changes in SCARS and 3D optical imaging assessments correlated significantly (R=0.68, P = 0.012), but there were no correlations between changes in QSGS and 3D optical assessment measures, or between the QSGS and SCARS results.
The new stereoscopic optical system is a reliable and practical objective method for assessing the cumulative depth of atrophic acne scars and monitoring treatment response. It is more sensitive, accurate, and informative than subjective scales.