Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Comparison of fractional microneedling radiofrequency and bipolar radiofrequency on acne and acne scar and investigation of mechanism: comparative randomized controlled clinical trial

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Archives of Dermatological Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Fractional microneedling radiofrequency (FMR) is one of the promising methods in acne treatment. Moreover, bipolar radiofrequency (BR) generates heat thereby which induces neocollagenosis. FMR may have the potential to be a safe and effective treatment for the patients both with acne and acne scar. This study was performed to compare the efficacy and safety of FMR and BR in acne and acne scar treatment. Furthermore, mechanism of the FMR treatment was investigated through skin tissues obtained from subjects. Twenty subjects with mild-to-moderate acne and acne scars were treated in a split-face manner with FMR and BR. Two sessions of treatment was done 4 weeks apart in a total 12-week prospective single-blind, randomized clinical trial. Clinical assessment and sebum measurement were carried out for the evaluation of efficacy and safety. Skin tissues were acquired for investigation of molecular changes. FMR was more effective for acne scar especially in icepick and boxcar scar compared to BR. Both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne lesions decreased by 80 and 65 % in the FMR-treated side at the final visit of 12 weeks, respectively. FMR treatment resulted in significant reduction of sebum excretion. Both treatments showed no severe adverse effects other than erythema. The FMR showed superior efficacy in acne and acne scar compared with BR. Increased expression of TGFβ and collagen I and decreased expression of NF-κB, IL-8 are suggested to involve in the improvement of acne scar and acne lesion by FMR.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Abd El All HS, Shoukry NS, El Maged RA, Ayada MM (2007) Immunohistochemical expression of interleukin 8 in skin biopsies from patients with inflammatory acne vulgaris. Diagn Pathol 2:4

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Burns JA (2005) Thermage: monopolar radiofrequency. Aesthet Surg J 25(6):638–642

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Choi YS, Suh HS, Yoon MY, Min SU, Lee DH, Suh DH (2010) Intense pulsed light vs. pulsed-dye laser in the treatment of facial acne: a randomized split-face trial. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 24(7):773–780

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Cordeiro MF, Bhattacharya SS, Schultz GS, Khaw PT (2000) TGF-beta1, -beta2, and -beta3 in vitro: biphasic effects on Tenon’s fibroblast contraction, proliferation, and migration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 41(3):756–763

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Dreno B, Khammari A, Orain N et al (2007) ECCA grading scale: an original validated acne scar grading scale for clinical practice in dermatology. Dermatology 214(1):46–51

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Fitzpatrick R, Geronemus R, Goldberg D, Kaminer M, Kilmer S, Ruiz-Esparza J (2003) Multicenter study of noninvasive radiofrequency for periorbital tissue tightening. Lasers Surg Med 33(4):232–242

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Goodman G (2006) Acne-natural history, facts and myths. Aust Fam Physician 35(8):613–616

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Hantash BM, Ubeid AA, Chang H, Kafi R, Renton B (2009) Bipolar fractional radiofrequency treatment induces neoelastogenesis and neocollagenesis. Lasers Surg Med 41(1):1–9

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Harper JC, Thiboutot DM (2003) Pathogenesis of acne: recent research advances. Adv Dermatol 19:1–10

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Hruza G, Taub AF, Collier SL, Mulholland SR (2009) Skin rejuvenation and wrinkle reduction using a fractional radiofrequency system. J Drugs Dermatol 8(3):259–265

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Huang S, Robinson JB, Deguzman A, Bucana CD, Fidler IJ (2000) Blockade of nuclear factor-kappaB signaling inhibits angiogenesis and tumorigenicity of human ovarian cancer cells by suppressing expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and interleukin 8. Cancer Res 60(19):5334–5339

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Jacob CI, Dover JS, Kaminer MS (2001) Acne scarring: a classification system and review of treatment options. J Am Acad Dermatol 45(1):109–117

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Janiczek-Dolphin N, Cook J, Thiboutot D, Harness J, Clucas A (2010) Can sebum reduction predict acne outcome? Br J Dermatol 163(4):683–688

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Jung JY, Choi YS, Yoon MY, Min SU, Suh DH (2009) Comparison of a pulsed dye laser and a combined 585/1064-nm laser in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Dermatol Surg 35(8):1181–1187

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Kaminaka C, Uede M, Matsunaka H, Furukawa F, Yamomoto Y (2014) Clinical evaluation of glycolic acid chemical peeling in patients with acne vulgaris: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, split-face comparative study. Dermatol Surg 40(3):314–322

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Kim SE, Lee JH, Kwon HB, Ahn BJ, Lee AY (2011) Greater collagen deposition with the microneedle therapy system than with intense pulsed light. Dermatol Surg 37(3):336–341

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Leyden JJ (1997) Therapy for acne vulgaris. N Engl J Med 336(16):1156–1162

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Lu L, Saulis AS, Liu WR et al (2005) The temporal effects of anti-TGF-beta1, 2, and 3 monoclonal antibody on wound healing and hypertrophic scar formation. J Am Coll Surg 201(3):391–397

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Min S, Yoon JY, Park SY, Kwon HH, Suh DH (2014) Clinical effect of bovine amniotic membrane and hydrocolloid on wound by laser treatment: prospective comparative randomized clinical trial. Wound Repair Regen 22(2):212–219

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Monaco C, Andreakos E, Kiriakidis S et al (2004) Canonical pathway of nuclear factor kappa B activation selectively regulates proinflammatory and prothrombotic responses in human atherosclerosis. Proc Natl Acad Sci 101(15):5634–5639

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Montesi G, Calvieri S, Balzani A, Gold MH (2007) Bipolar radiofrequency in the treatment of dermatologic imperfections: clinicopathological and immunohistochemical aspects. J Drugs Dermatol 6(9):890–896

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. O’Brien S, Lewis J, Cunliffe W (1998) The Leeds revised acne grading system. J Dermatol Treat 9(4):215–220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Peterson JD, Palm MD, Kiripolsky MG, Guiha IC, Goldman MP (2011) Evaluation of the effect of fractional laser with radiofrequency and fractionated radiofrequency on the improvement of acne scars. Dermatol Surg 37(9):1260–1267

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Prieto VG, Zhang PS, Sadick NS (2005) Evaluation of pulsed light and radiofrequency combined for the treatment of acne vulgaris with histologic analysis of facial skin biopsies. J Cosmet Laser Ther 7(2):63–68

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Ruiz-Esparza J, Gomez JB (2003) Nonablative radiofrequency for active acne vulgaris: the use of deep dermal heat in the treatment of moderate to severe active acne vulgaris (thermotherapy): a report of 22 patients. Dermatol Surg 29(4):333–339

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Sadick NS, Makino Y (2004) Selective electro-thermolysis in aesthetic medicine: a review. Lasers Surg Med 34(2):91–97

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Yoon JY, Kwon HH, Min SU, Thiboutot DM, Suh DH (2013) Epigallocatechin-3-gallate improves acne in humans by modulating intracellular molecular targets and inhibiting P. acnes. J Invest Dermatol 133(2):429–440

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Zouboulis CC, Seltmann H, Hiroi N et al (2002) Corticotropin-releasing hormone: an autocrine hormone that promotes lipogenesis in human sebocytes. Proc Natl Acad Sci 99(10):7148–7153

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIP) (No. 2014R1A2A1A11049397) as well as Seoul National University Hospital Research Fund (No. 0620141990).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 110-744, South Korea

    Seonguk Min, Seon Yong Park & Dae Hun Suh

  2. Acne Research Laboratory, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, South Korea

    Seonguk Min, Seon Yong Park, Ji Young Yoon & Dae Hun Suh

Authors
  1. Seonguk Min
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Seon Yong Park
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ji Young Yoon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Dae Hun Suh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dae Hun Suh.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declared no conflicting interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Min, S., Park, S.Y., Yoon, J.Y. et al. Comparison of fractional microneedling radiofrequency and bipolar radiofrequency on acne and acne scar and investigation of mechanism: comparative randomized controlled clinical trial. Arch Dermatol Res 307, 897–904 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-015-1601-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-015-1601-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation