Efficacy and Tolerability of a Microneedling Device for Treating Wrinkles on the Neck

Study to determine the safety and efficacy of microneedling as an effective treatment for acne vulgaris

Background

Acne is an inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit that occurs primarily in adolescents. There is no current ideal treatment for acne vulgaris, as many mainstay prescription treatment modalities can compromise the skin microbiome or have deleterious health effects. Further research is needed to investigate novel treatment modalities that account for the importance of the skin microbiome. Other developing treatment modalities for acne are still taking a similar mode of action as current treatments by trying to eliminate Cutibacterium acnes despite growing evidence that some C. acnes strains may be symbiotic in nature. The perception that microneedling will exacerbate the disease state and trigger more acneic lesions via the spread of acne-associated microbes has hindered research investigating whether microneedling is a safe and effective treatment. This pilot clinical study challenges such perceptions by clinical assessment to determine if microneedling may produce beneficial treatment outcomes without disrupting critical skin structure or skin microbiome.

Objectives

Test the safety and efficacy of microneedling as an effective treatment modality for acne vulgaris.

Methods

Subjects were split into two groups, one group received three treatments 4 weeks apart, and the second group received four treatments 2 weeks apart. Subjects received an acne assessment by an expert clinical grader at all clinical visits.

Results

There was a statistically significant reduction in both non-inflammatory and inflammatory lesions at the 2-month follow-up compared to the baseline for Group 1. Group 1 and Group 2 saw a decline of 48.20% and 54.00% in non-inflammatory lesions and 57.97% and 36.67% in inflammatory lesions, respectively, at their last visit compared to baseline.

Conclusion

This study expands the utility of microneedling into a potential therapeutic modality for acne vulgaris. The data generated during the duration of this clinical study demonstrates that there is no scientific reason for microneedling to be contraindicated for acne. In this pilot, microneedling did not cause post-treatment complications and was seen to reduce acne lesions effectively. Thus, microneedling may have the potential to be a well-tolerated option for those suffering from acne, being a treatment that neither damages the sebaceous glands nor disrupts the skin microbiome.

Construction of microneedle of Atractylodes macrocephala Rhizoma aqueous extract and effect on mammary gland hyperplasia based on intestinal flora

BACKGROUND

A microneedle patch loaded with Atractylodes macrocephala Rhizoma water extract was prepared for the treatment of mammary gland hyperplasia. To explore the relationship between Mammary gland hyperplasia and intestinal flora.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Preparation of the microneedle patch by micromolding method, the prescription of the microneedle was optimized by the Box-Behnken Design response surface test, and the micro-morphology, penetration, toughness, and brittleness were investigated. In vitro release of drug-loaded microneedles was measured by diffusion cell method. The rat model of mammary gland hyperplasia was prepared by the combination of estradiol benzoate-progesterone, and the microneedle patch of Atractylodes macrocephala Rhizoma aqueous extract was used for intervention treatment. The change of levels in E₂, P, and PRL in rat serum was determined. The intestinal contents of rats were collected and the changes in intestinal flora in MGH rats were analyzed by 16s rRNA high-throughput sequencing.

RESULTS

The optimized microneedle formula is a PVA concentration of 6.0%, HA concentration of 15.5%, and PVPK30 concentration of 16.0%. The prepared microneedle tip loaded with Atractylodes macrocephala Rhizoma aqueous extract has complete, sharp, and no bubbles and the needle rate of the microneedle array is in the range of 95%~100%. The bending rate of the microneedle is about 12.7%, and it has good flexibility, and the microneedle can puncture 4 layers of ParafilmⓇ membrane smoothly, and the puncture rate is more than 96%. The in vitro release of the microneedle was characterized by rapid release. The results of animal experiments showed that Atractylodes macrocephala Rhizoma aqueous extract microneedle patch could significantly reduce the E₂ level, significantly reduce the PRL level, and significantly increase the P level. At the same time, it can regulate the abundance and diversity of intestinal flora in MGH rats, improve the intestinal flora disorder caused by mammary gland hyperplasia, and balance the community structure.

CONCLUSION

The prepared microneedle containing Atractylodes macrocephala Rhizoma aqueous extract has good toughness and brittle strength, can penetrate the skin and enter the dermis, and effectively deliver drugs to play a role in the treatment of mammary gland hyperplasia.

Prevention of Ageing-The Role of Micro-Needling in Neck and Cleavage Rejuvenation: A Narrative Review

Although interest in aesthetic medicine is growing, the focus is often placed outside of the facial area, namely on the skin of the neck and cleavage. Exposure to the sun and muscle movements cause the prompt development of wrinkles that may appear there, even before they show up on the face. We conducted a literature review devoted to micro-needling to identify its role in anti-ageing treatments and to determine the gaps in current knowledge. A search in Medline identified 52 publications for neck and face micro-needling. Micro-needling is an anti-ageing procedure that involves making micro-punctures in the skin to induce skin remodelling by stimulating the fibroblasts responsible for collagen and elastin production. It can be applied to the skin of the face, neck, and cleavage. Two to four weeks should be allowed between repeated procedures to achieve an optimal effect. The increase in collagen and elastin in the skin can reach 400% after 6 months, with an increase in the thickness of the stratum granulosum occurring for up to 1 year. In conclusion, micro-needling can be considered an effective and safe aesthetic medicine procedure which is conducted at low costs due to its low invasiveness, low number of adverse reactions, and short recovery time. Little evidence identified in the literature suggests that this procedure requires further research.