ArticleDermatology and therapy2022
Efficacy and Safety of Using Noninsulated Microneedle Radiofrequency Alone Versus in Combination with Polynucleotides for the Treatment of Melasma: A Pilot Study.
Article in Dermatology and therapy, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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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.
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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.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 14 citations in OpenAlex.
- Effectiveness of Radiofrequency Microneedling in the Treatment of Dermatological Conditions: A Systematic Review.Aesthetic plastic surgery · 2026Pooled it
- Efficacy and Safety of Combination Therapy of Microneedling Radiofrequency, In-Office and Home-Based Topical Cysteamine in Refractory Melasma: A Split Face, Vehicle-Control, Randomized Control Trial.Journal of cosmetic dermatology · 2025Trial
- A Prospective Split-face Trial Evaluating Skin Recovery and Enhancement with Polynucleotide (Rejuran) Following Fractional Needle Radiofrequency Treatment.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2026Article
- Clinical Effects and Safety of Radiofrequency Microneedling for the Management of Melasma: A Retrospective Study.Aesthetic surgery journal. Open forum · 2026Article
- A Retrospective Analysis of Radiofrequency Microneedling for Melasma Management in the Japanese Population.Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology · 2026Article
- The Efficacy and Safety of Radiofrequency Microneedling for Melasma: A Systematic Review and Qualitative Evidence Synthesis.Aesthetic surgery journal. Open forum · 2026Review
- Expert Perspectives: Evidence-Based Applications of Polynucleotides (PNs) in Aesthetic Medicine and Dermatology.Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology · 2026Article
- The Landscape of Radiofrequency Technology for Skin Rejuvenation.Health science reports · 2026Article
- Review of Applications of Microneedling in Melasma.Journal of cosmetic dermatology · 2025Review
- Energy-Based Methods and Nanocarrier-Based Approaches for Melasma Treatment.Advanced pharmaceutical bulletin · 2024Review
- Polynucleotides in Aesthetic Medicine: A Review of Current Practices and Perceived Effectiveness.International journal of molecular sciences · 2024Review
- Can Microneedle Fractional Radiofrequency System Treatment Impair the Skin Barrier Function in Chinese Patients? A Prospective Clinical Trial.Dermatology and therapy · 2022Article
- Update on Melasma-Part II: Treatment.Dermatology and therapy · 2022Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionThis split-face, double-blind, randomized controlled study investigated the efficacy and safety of using a microneedling radiofrequency (RF) device with polynucleotides (PN) versus RF alone for the treatment of melasma.
methodsThirty adult participants with melasma (Fitzpatrick skin types III-V) received three treatments with an invasive, bipolar, pulsed-type microneedling RF device on both sides of the face. The treatment sessions occurred once every 2 weeks. The hemifaces of each participant were designated for treatment and control with PN and normal saline solution (NSS), applied after treatment with RF. Measurements were made of melanin index (MI), erythema index (EI), skin roughness (by the Antera 3D system), modified melasma area severity index (mMASI) for each hemiface, and patients' self-assessed improvement. These occurred at baseline and again following the final treatment (2 weeks and 1, 2, 3, and 6 months after). Mean values were obtained for MI, EI, skin roughness, and mMASI. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used to compare the obtained values for the outcome measures across all assessment points.
resultsAll patients were women (mean age, 43.2 ± 7.0 years). Mixed melasma predominated (61.5%; n = 16), and the mean duration of melasma was 8.9 ± 6.5 years. Twenty-six participants were followed up to the 6-month assessment point. Significant improvements were observed from baseline in MI, skin roughness, and mMASI scores for both the PN and control sides at 6 months, with no statistically significant differences between sides. Patients' self-assessed improvement scores also showed a positive trend. Melasma recurrence was observed in three patients at 2, 3, and 4 months after the last treatment session (10% recurrence rate).
conclusionsThe combination of an invasive, bipolar, pulsed-type microneedling RF with PN is not superior compared with microneedling RF alone in the treatment of melasma. Microneedling RF may be considered as safe and efficacious for the improvement of skin roughness, and as an adjunctive treatment option for melasma. CLINICAL
trial registrationThis study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and assigned NCT number TCTR20210804002.
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