title: Assessment of treatment efficacy and sebosuppressive effect of fractional radiofrequency microneedle on acne vulgaris.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A minimally invasive fractional radiofrequency microneedle (FRM) device has been used in skin rejuvenation and acne scars, and a recent pilot study demonstrated the positive therapeutic effect on acne. We evaluated the efficacy of FRM device for acne vulgaris in Asians and conducted objective measurement to assess its effect on sebum production.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty Korean patients with acne vulgaris received a single full-face FRM treatment. Outcome assessments included standardized photography, physician's global assessment, patient's satisfaction scores, acne lesion count, and objective measurements of casual sebum level (CSL) and sebum excretion rate (SER). They were evaluated at baseline and 2, 4, 8 weeks after the treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After a single FRM treatment, the CSL and the SER showed 30-60% and 70-80% reduction, respectively, at week 2 (P < 0.01), and remained below the baseline level until week 8. Physician's global improvement scores for acne severity and acne lesion count also revealed clinical improvement with maximum efficacy at week 2, but returned to the baseline in most patients by week 8. Patients' satisfaction scores (0-4) were above 2 on average, and adverse effects were minimal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This prospective study demonstrated the sebosuppressive effect from a single FRM treatment, but its therapeutic efficacy in acne requires further evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Korea Dermatology Research Institute (KDRI), Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Real
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Eo Gin
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hee Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Moon Soo
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004566:Electrodes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009339:Needles; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010781:Photography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000078702:Radiofrequency Therapy; D012629:Sebum / Q000378:metabolism*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: acne vulgaris; fractional radiofrequency microneedle; sebum excretion