Skin Needling to Enhance Depigmenting Serum Penetration in the Treatment of Melasma

Abstract

Melasma is a common hypermelanotic disorder affecting the facial area which has a considerable psychological impact on the patient. Managing melasma is a difficult challenge that requires long-term treatment with a number of topical agents, such as rucinol and sophora-alpha. Aims. We aim to compare the combined treatment of skin needling and depigmenting serum with that using depigmenting serum alone in the treatment of melasma, in order to evaluate the use of microneedles as a means to enhance the drug's transdermal penetration. Methods. Twenty patients were treated with combined skin needling and depigmenting serum on one side of the face and with depigmenting serum alone on the other side. The outcome was evaluated periodically for up to two months using the Melasma Area Severity Index score and the Spectrocolorimeter X-Rite 968. Results. The side with combined treatment (skin needling + depigmenting serum) presented a statistically significant reduction in MASI score and luminosity index (L) levels compared to the side treated with depigmenting serum alone, and clinical symptoms were significantly improved. Conclusions. Our study suggests the potential use of combining skin needling with rucinol and sophora-alpha compounds to achieve better results in melasma treatment compared to rucinol and sophora-alpha alone.

Study of efficacy of microneedling and mesoneedling in the treatment of epidermal melasma: A pilot trial

“…Addressed technique is also utilized to augment transdermal drug delivery (TDD) through several methods, including creation of pores and channels with micron‐sized dimensions in the stratum corneum, followed by topical drug application and direct drug injection through hollow microneedles …”

Facial Allergic Granulomatous Reaction and Systemic Hypersensitivity Associated With Microneedle Therapy for Skin Rejuvenation

“…In dermatology practice, microneedles have been used to increase skin penetration of depigmenting serum to treat melasma. 2 However, the most common use of microneedles in dermatology is skin needling with solid microneedles to create a field of microinjuries that leads to increased collagen and elastin production and skin rejuvenation. Various cosmeceuticals are applied before microneedling to enhance the therapeutic effect and improve wrinkles, traumatic and acne scars, and dyspigmentation.…”

“…Massive outbreaks have occurred when swarms of moths were attracted by the lights of ships in the Venezuelan port of Caripito; today, Caripito itch is a recognized occupational dermatitis. 2 Several genodermatoses carry place names: Mljet or Meleda (Croatia) palmoplantar keratoderma, Ogna (Norway) epidermolysis bullosa simplex, Oudtshoorn (Cape Province of South Africa) keratolytic winter erythema, 3 and Rheydt (Germany) ichthyosis hystrix.…”

Fractional Microneedling

“…In the last few years, the transdermal delivery of active substances has become an important therapy used in treating a large number of skin diseases. 18 Skin penetration enhancement can be achieved physically through many techniques that have been developed to improve transdermal drug delivery, like electroporation, 19,20 sonophoresis, 21,22 and iontophoresis, 23,24 which are able to improve the stratum corneum layer permeability and to enhance penetration of topical agents through the skin.…”

“…18 The microneedles penetrate through the epidermis but do not remove it; the epidermis is only punctured and heals rapidly. The needles seem to separate the cells from one another rather than cut through them, and thus many cells are spared.…”