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Fractional microneedling radiofrequency used as rosacea treatment
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Patients with mild-to-moderate rosacea experienced modest clinical and histologic improvement following fractional microneedling radiofrequency treatment, according to recently published study results.
Researchers in Seoul, South Korea, conducted a 12-week, prospective, split-face clinical trial of 21 patients (20 women, mean age, 42.9 years) with mild-to-moderate rosacea.
Patients had Fitzpatrick skin type III (n = 13) or type IV (n = 8). There were 14 patients with erythematotelangiectatic rosacea (ETR) and seven patients with papulopustular rosacea (PPR). Twelve patients had mild rosacea at baseline and nine patients had moderate rosacea.
On one side of the cheek, fractional microneedling radiofrequency (FMR; Infini, Lutronic) treatment was performed at two sessions with a 4-week interval. The other side was not treated. Digital photographs were taken at weeks 0 and 4 for FMR treatment and 4 and 8 weeks after the second session. Erythema was measured at each visit, and histologic analysis of skin samples also were conducted.
“Clinical evaluation and photometric measurement revealed the reduction of redness in the treated side compared with the untreated side and baseline,” the researchers wrote.
At week 12, the erythema index, measured using the Derma Spectrometer, decreased by 13.6% and the a* value, measured with the Spectrophotometer, decreased by 6.8%.
Immunohistochemical staining of tissue after FMR treatment found reduced expression of markers related to inflammation, innate immunity and angiogenesis.
“FMR treatment alone resulted in modest clinical and histologic improvement of rosacea,” the researchers concluded. “FMR might be an option for patients who fail other medical therapy, who are resistant to long-term oral therapy, or who do not want to take any oral or topical medication, such as pregnant women. Further study is to be focused on optimizing and evaluating the efficacy of multiple FMR treatments and combination therapy with other medications.” – by Bruce Thiel
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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