Histologic study of collagen and stem cells after radiofrequency treatment for aging skin.
BACKGROUND
Monopolar radiofrequency (mRF) devices have been shown to be clinically effective for treating aging skin, but there are few histologic studies about the mechanisms.


OBJECTIVE
To histologically analyze chronologic and quantitative change in collagens after mRF treatment to determine the mechanisms of the antiaging effect.


METHODS
Five patients were enrolled in this study. Skin specimens were taken before and 1 and 3 months after treatment. Immunostaining was performed to determine change in type I and III collagen levels and stem and other cell counts in skin layers.


RESULTS
In all cases, both types of collagen significantly increased after irradiation in the dermis (p < .05), and their changes were noticed uniformly in all layers. No significant change was noticed in stem and other cell counts.


CONCLUSIONS
This study histologically demonstrated that type I and III collagen increased significantly in the dermis after mRF treatment. The amount of stem cells did not affect the increase in collagens.
Department of Dermatology, Daido Hospital, Nagoya, Japan; Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan.
Yusuke
Y
Yokoyama
Hirotaka
H
Akita
Seiji
S
Hasegawa
Kei
K
Negishi
Hirohiko
H
Akamatsu
Kayoko
K
Matsunaga
D000328:Adult; D002452:Cell Count; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000078702:Radiofrequency Therapy; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D013997:Time Factors
D024042:Collagen Type I; D024061:Collagen Type III