| Introduction: Microneedling is a well-established treatment for acne scars, but its cost and accessibility can be a barrier in low-resource set-up. This pilot study explores the innovative use of insulin syringes as a low-cost alternative for manual microneedling in atrophic acne scars. Aims & Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and preliminary efficacy of insulin syringe-assisted microneedling in the management of facial acne scars. Methods: All patients above 18 years of age with atrophic facial scars were included in the study. Participants underwent manual needling using sterile insulin syringes once monthly for 3 months. Needling was performed under aseptic precautions, in a grid-like fashion across the scarred areas, using a 31-G insulin needle. Goodman & Baron qualitative scar grading, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), pre- and post-photographs, and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were recorded before each session. The results were then evaluated by two independent dermatologists with the help of pre- and post-photographs. Results: 20 patients (12 females, 8 males; mean age: 24.6 years) with atrophic acne scars were included. All patients completed 3 sessions of insulin syringe-assisted microneedling at monthly intervals. • Clinical Improvement: Based on the Goodman & Baron qualitative scar grading system, 15 patients (75%) showed mild improvement, while 5 patients (25%) demonstrated moderate improvement. • DLQI: Mean DLQI score reduced from 9.2 ± 1.8 to 5.4 ± 1.2, reflecting a mild-to-moderate improvement in quality of life. • VAS: Mean VAS score improved from 3.1 ± 0.9 to 6.5 ± 1.3, with patients reporting smoother skin texture and reduction in scar depth. All patients experienced transient erythema lasting 24–48 hours. 2 (10%) developed mild post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, which subsided with topical depigmenting agents. Conclusion: Insulin syringe-assisted microneedling may offer a frugal alternative for acne scar treatment in a resource-constrained environment. Larger controlled trials are warranted to validate these findings |
