Safety of performing invasive acne scar treatment and laser hair removal in patients on oral isotretinoin: a retrospective study of 110 patients

Background It is reported that patients on oral isotretinoin have greater risk of developing scars and delayed wound healing with invasive procedures. It is recommended that these procedures be resumed 6-12 months after the last dose of oral isotretinoin. Aim To assess and compare the safety and look for delayed wound healing, during invasive acne scar treatment and laser hair removal on (a) patients who were on oral isotretinoin, and (b) patients who were not on oral isotretinoin. Methods A comparative, retrospective study of 110 patients was done. Fifty-five patients with either acne scars or hirsutism who underwent procedures while on oral isotretinoin, and 55 patients who were not on oral isotretinoin were selected and grouped into A and B respectively. Group A patients were on 0.5 mg/kg/day isotretinoin orally through the entire procedure duration, while group B patients received topical medications alone. The subjects from both groups underwent invasive acne scar treatment and laser hair removal. Clinical and photographic assessment was done at baseline followed by four sessions with an interval of six weeks between each. Results Isotretinoin had not resulted in any untoward effects in patients who underwent the procedures. Atypical scarring, delayed wound healing, keloids, or hypertrophic scars were not observed in any patient. Conclusion Isotretinoin does not appear to delay wound healing, and hence invasive procedures can be considered on patients on oral isotretinoin without any compromise on the outcome.