Efficacy and safety of fractional microneedle radiofrequency for atrophic acne scars: A real‐world clinical study of 126 patients

• Published in: Lasers in surgery and medicine 2024-02, Vol.56 (2), p.150-164
• Main Authors: Ding, Ziwei, Guo, Yuan, Guo, Yuehong, Tang, Yanqiu, Yin, Xufeng, Hua, Hui, Zhou, Zhanchao, Zhou, Bingrong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acne; adverse reactions; atrophic acne scars; Blistering; Effectiveness; efficacy; Erythema; Hyperpigmentation; microneedle fractional radiofrequency; Multivariate analysis; Needles; Patients; Pulse duration; Radio frequency; Regression analysis; Safety; Scars; Short pulses
• ISSN: 0196-8092; 1096-9101; 1096-9101
• DOI: 10.1002/lsm.23759

Objective To analyze the clinical efficacy and safety of fractional microneedle radiofrequency (FMR) for facial atrophic acne scars in a real‐world setting. Methods The clinical data of patients with atrophic acne scars who had received FMR therapy from February 2018 to August 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The improvement of atrophic acne scars was assessed using the ECCA Grading Scale (échelle d'évaluation clinique des cicatrices d'acné), Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS), and modified Manchester Scar Scale (mMSS). Adverse reactions during FMR treatment were also recorded. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of FMR for atrophic acne scars. Results A total of 126 patients with facial atrophic acne scars were included. A total of 590 FMR treatment sessions were accomplished, with each of 82 patients receiving 4 or more treatment sessions, and 1 receiving a maximum of 14 sessions. All patients showed improvement in symptoms after FMR treatment, with moderate to significant improvement (ECCA score reduction of 26%–100%) in 92 (73.0%) patients. As the number of treatment sessions increased, the ECCA score gradually decreased from an average of 85.6 before to 35.0 after FMR. The average scores for distortion, color, and visual analogue scale (VAS) of mMSS all showed certain reductions. The change in GAIS score indicated improvement after treatment, with minimal improvement in 16 patients (12.7%), good improvement in 57 patients (45.2%), significant improvement in 45 patients (35.7%), and optimal improvement in 8 patients (6.4%). The univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that the long pulse width and the number of FMR treatment sessions were positively associated with clinical efficacy. Compared to the short pulse‐width group (200 ms), the longer pulse‐width group (300 ms) (odds ratio [OR] = 8.3, p = 0.003) and the even longer pulse‐width group (400–500 ms) (OR = 52.6, p