title: The efficacy and safety of combined microneedle fractional radiofrequency and sublative fractional radiofrequency for acne scars in Asian skin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Microneedle fractional radiofrequency has been reported to be effective for improving wrinkles, enlarged pores and various scars. Sublative fractional radiofrequency has been shown to induce both fractional ablation of epidermis and upper dermal remodelling, which had rejuvenation effects in photoaged skin. Both modalities may have the potential synergy to improve acne scars.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of combined microneedle and sublative fractional radiofrequency for acne scars in Asian skin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty subjects comprised 11 males and 9 females (mean age 23.65 ± 2.94, skin phototype III-IV) with moderate to severe acne scars. The subjects received three consecutive combined microneedle and sublative fractional radiofrequency at 4-week intervals over 12 weeks. Both blinded dermatologists and subjects assessed the clinical improvement based on the standardized photography and questionnaires, respectively. The quartile grading scale was utilized and defined as follows: grade 1, 0-25% improvement; grade 2, 26-50% improvement; grade 3, 51-75% improvement and grade 4, 76-100% improvement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 20 subjects were assessed to have grade 2 or more clinical improvement by physicians; four (20%) had grade 4, 10 (50%) had grade 3, and six (30%) had grade 2 improvement. The subjects' grading also showed a good concordance as indicated by Kappa index of 0.695. The mean duration of post-therapy crusting was 5.2 days and post-therapy erythema lasted 2.5 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined microneedle and sublative fractional radiofrequency can have a positive therapeutic effect with no serious complications and may provide a new therapeutic approach on acne scars in Asians.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Yang
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Eo Gin
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Moon Soo
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Hee Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000150:complications* / Q000208:ethnology; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009339:Needles; D011446:Prospective Studies; D061208:Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Asian; acne scar; fractional radiofrequency