A Single-Center Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Tolerability of Four Microneedling Treatments on Fine Lines and Wrinkles of Facial and Neck Skin in Subjects With Fitzpatrick Skin Types I-IV: An Objective Assessment Using Noninvasive Devices and 0.33-mm Microbiopsies. - 2021

BACKGROUND: While ablative techniques have been standard of care for the treatment of fine lines and wrinkles, microneedling is a minimally invasive alternative. CONCLUSIONS: The results illustrate the effects of microneedling treatments. Non-invasive measurements and biopsy data showed changes in skin architecture and collagen/elastin gene expression suggesting skin rejuvenation, with new extracellular matrix production and muscle formation. Copyright (c) 2021 The Aesthetic Society. Reprints and permission: journals.permissions@oup.com. METHODS: 35 subjects between 44 and 65 years old with Fitzpatrick skin types I-IV received four monthly microneedling treatments over the face and neck. Subjects returned one and three months post-treatment. At every visit, high-resolution ultrasonography, optical coherence tomography, transepidermal water loss and BTC-2000 were performed. 0.33mm microbiopsies were collected pre-treatment, before the fourth treatment and three months post-treatment. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of microneedling on facial and neck fine lines and wrinkles. RESULTS: 32 subjects (93.75% female, 6.25% male) completed all seven visits. Facial dermal and epidermal density increased 101.86% and 19.28%, respectively from baseline at three months post-treatment. Facial elasticity increased 28.2% from baseline three months post-treatment. Facial attenuation coefficient increased 15.65% and 17.33% one and three months post-treatment. At study completion, blood flow 300microm deep decreased 25.8% in the face and 42.3% in the neck. Relative collagen type III and elastin gene expression was statistically higher three months post-treatment. However, total elastin protein levels unchanged compared to baseline. 58% of biopsies extracted three months post-treatment showed dermal muscle formation, compared to baseline 15.3%.


English

1090-820X

10.1093/asj/sjab052 [doi] 6154362 [pii]


*Cosmetic Techniques
*Skin Aging
Adult
Aged
Cosmetic Techniques/ae [Adverse Effects]
Face/dg [Diagnostic Imaging]
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Rejuvenation
Skin


MedStar Washington Hospital Center


Surgery/General Surgery


Journal Article