ReviewClinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology2020
Microneedling for the Treatment of Scars: An Update for Clinicians.
Review in Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 39 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
39 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 88 citations in OpenAlex.
- Fractional CO2 Laser Versus Micro Needling Radiofrequency for Post Acne Scarring: A Meta-Analysis of RCTs.Journal of cosmetic dermatology · 2026Pooled it
- Topical, light-based, and complementary interventions for acne: an overview of systematic reviews.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2024Pooled it
- Microneedling Therapy for Striae Distensae: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Aesthetic plastic surgery · 2024Pooled it
- Microneedling Monotherapy for Acne Scar: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Aesthetic plastic surgery · 2022Pooled it
- Combined Effect of Microneedling and Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Acne Scars: A Meta-Analysis.Frontiers in medicine · 2021Pooled it
- Recombinant Pure PDGF Improves Aesthetic Results and Patient Satisfaction Following RF Microneedling: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial.Journal of cosmetic dermatology · 2025Trial
- Efficacy of a triamcinolone acetonide-loaded dissolving microneedle patch for the treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled split-scar study.Archives of dermatological research · 2023Trial
- Development and Optimization of Retinyl Palmitate-Loaded Oleogel and Nanoemulsion Designed with Potential for Microneedling Treatment.Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Current therapeutic strategies and available research models for investigating hypertrophic scars.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2026Review
- Overexpression of miR-431-5p Inhibits the Development of Hypertrophic Scars by Negatively Regulating the Expression of ZEB1.Journal of cosmetic dermatology · 2025Article
- Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Fractional Laser and Fractional Radiofrequency for Atrophic Acne Scars: A Retrospective Propensity Score Analysis.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Red-Light Photodynamic Therapy with 10% Aminolevulinic Acid (ALA) Following Microneedling in the Treatment of Facial Actinic Keratosis: Cosmetic and Clinical Outcomes.The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology · 2025Article
- Article
- Leveraging Microneedles for Raised Scar Management.Polymers · 2025Review
- Designing Multifunctional Microneedles in Biomedical Engineering: Materials, Methods, and Applications.International journal of nanomedicine · 2025Review
- The Pathophysiology and Management of Pathologic Scarring-a Contemporary Review.Advances in wound care · 2025Review
- Micro-needling: current state of knowledge and clinical applications: a review.Postepy dermatologii i alergologii · 2025Review
- Microneedles as an Emerging Platform for Transdermal Delivery of Phytochemicals.Molecular pharmaceutics · 2024Review
- Facial Reconstruction: The Nuances of Managing Undesirable Results.Seminars in plastic surgery · 2024Review
- Challenges and Strategies in Post-Mohs Reconstructive Surgery.Seminars in plastic surgery · 2024Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMicroneedling (MN) is used for the treatment of scars, amongst other indications. Although used in Asia and the Middle East for decades, related to the supposed lack of post-procedure pigmentary alterations even in darker skin types, MN only recently gained attention in the United States as an effective, well-tolerated aesthetic treatment. MATERIALS AND
methodsA systematic review of the Medline database was completed using search terms "microneedle" or "microneedling" or "micro needle" or "micro needling" and "scar". Included articles were written in English and discussed the use of MN for the treatment of scars in human subjects.
resultsFifty-eight studies were included for review, with a total of 1845 patients treated for acne scarring, hypertrophic or keloid scars, and those resulting from surgery, trauma, varicella or smallpox. MN and its counterpart fractional radiofrequency MN (FRF-MN) were used as monotherapy or in combination with topical, surgical or systemic modalities. MN and FRF-MN treatment resulted in clinical improvement of scar appearance from baseline. No serious adverse events occurred.
conclusionMN is a well-tolerated, minimally invasive procedure that can be used for the treatment of scars with a high level of patient satisfaction. Further clinical studies are needed to develop standardized treatment protocols.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.