Novel Acne Scar Gel Has High Rates of Efficacy and Patient Satisfaction

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A recent trial evaluated the efficacy of Newmedical Technology’s Acne Scar Gel (ASG) in improving scar appearance and hyperpigmentation from acne.¹ Over 70% of users were satisfied with the novel treatment.

ASG is a noninvasive topical therapy formulated with patent-pending ReTex-5 technology. Its key ingredients include 10% azelaic acid, acetyl zingerone, bakuchiol, vitamin C, licorice root extract, and medical-grade silicone gel.

The single-center, open-label trial included 23 patients with mild-to-moderate acne scarring and hyperpigmentation. All participants were between the ages of 18 and 45. Additionally, all Fitzpatrick skin types were represented.

The study consisted of 4 visits over a 12-week period. Patients applied the product twice a day, once in the morning and once before bed. They were also given an SPF 30+ gel to use when exposed to the sun. Before and after 3D photographs via the Quantificare 3D LifeViz camera were used to measure progress. Subjective patient questionnaires about hyperpigmentation, skin appearances, product impressions, and use were also given. These evaluations were performed at weeks 4, 8, and 12.

At the week 12 follow-up, 72.5% had smoother, more radiant skin with a reduction of hyperpigmentation and redness, based on investigator analysis. A majority of patients expressed high satisfaction and positive impressions of the product. These grew as the study progressed, indicating that patients became more convinced of the product’s effectiveness as time went on. Additionally, the number of undecided participants with neutral responses in all categories declined throughout the trial.

“This reinforces the idea that as participants continued to use the product, their perception of improvement became clearer,” the authors wrote. “The expected variability in response times among individuals—some seeing faster results than others (hyper responders)—also aligns with the idea that gradual improvements become clearer as time goes on.”

Furthermore, 83% of patients noticed an improvement in the appearance of skin texture and evenness as well as the color of hyperpigmentation spots. About 70% saw a noticeable difference in their indented scars and said their scarring looked much smoother and healthier overall. This, in turn, made the participants feel much more confident in their appearance.

User experience was positive with high ratings regarding the product’s feel, application, and wear. According to the patients, the product absorbed quickly and spread easily without making the skin feel greasy or sticky. The average scores for each question exceeded 3 (neutral) for the entirety of the study. The highest-rated answers were to the questions, “The product is easy to spread,” with an average of 4.16, and “The product dispenses easily,” with an average of 4.59. There were no significant adverse events, indicating that the formulation was tolerable for twice-daily use.

There were some addressed limitations including the small sample size and short follow-up. Further research should include more participants with at least 16 weeks of follow-up as this is the standard for hyperpigmentation studies. The investigators also suggest breaking down any new data by Fitzpatrick skin type to further analyze the efficacy in each subtype.

Although the ASG product was designed to be used alone, it can be combined with other current acne scar treatments that stimulate collagen production or fill indentations. These include microneedling, lasers, excision, platelet-rich plasma, fillers, dermabrasion, and trichloroacetic acid, for example.² It may also be used as an alternative for patients who are not candidates for those more aggressive methods.

References

1. Katz BE, Mishu M, Malayeva M. A Single-Center, Open Label, Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Acne Scar Gel (ASG) in Improving Acne Scar Appearance and Reducing Hyperpigmentation in Subjects With Mild-To-Moderate Acne Scars. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2025;24(3):e70081. doi:10.1111/jocd.70081

2. Connolly D, Vu HL, Mariwalla K, Saedi N. Acne Scarring-Pathogenesis, Evaluation, and Treatment Options. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2017;10(9):12-23.