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Microneedling of Scars: A Large Prospective Study with Long-Term Follow-Up
Tina S Alster1,2, Monica Ka Yi Li2
1Washington, D.C.; and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
|January 28, 2020
Summary
Microneedling effectively improves various scar types in diverse skin tones with minimal side effects. This study shows significant scar reduction after an average of 2.5 treatments, supporting its therapeutic use.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Aesthetic Medicine
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Microneedling is increasingly utilized for dermatologic conditions, particularly scars.
- Previous studies on microneedling for scars had small patient numbers and varied protocols.
- This study addresses these limitations through a prospective observational design.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of microneedling for diverse scar types.
- To assess treatment outcomes across various skin phototypes (I-VI).
- To describe the results of microneedling in a larger patient cohort.
Main Methods:
- 120 patients with facial and non-facial scars (acne, trauma, surgery) were treated with a mechanical microneedling device.
- No adjunctive topical or intralesional treatments were used.
- Clinical improvement was assessed by blinded assessors on a five-point scale at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-treatment.
Main Results:
- All scars showed at least 50% improvement after an average of 2.5 monthly treatments.
- Over 80% of patients experienced 50-75% improvement, and 65% had over 75% improvement.
- No significant differences in response were noted between facial and non-facial scars or between atrophic acne and traumatic/surgical scars.
Conclusions:
- Microneedling is a safe and effective treatment for various facial and non-facial scars across all skin phototypes.
- The procedure demonstrated minimal adverse effects.
- Further research is recommended to standardize protocols for optimizing outcomes for different scar types.
