Trial reportYonsei medical journal2023
Combination of Fractional Microneedling Radiofrequency and Ablative Fractional Laser versus Ablative Fractional Laser Alone for Acne and Acne Scars.
Trial report in Yonsei medical journal, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers, 2 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
14 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Comparing fractional CO₂ laser and needling-based modalities in facial acne scar treatment: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis.Lasers in medical science · 2026Pooled it
- The impact of energy-based devices on sebum in acne vulgaris: A systematic review.Journal of cosmetic dermatology · 2024Pooled it
- Short-term efficacy and safety of 5MHz fractional microneedle radiofrequency for facial rejuvenation: a prospective study.Annals of medicine · 2026Trial
- Fractional microneedle radiofrequency for photoaging and atrophic acne scar: a split-face clinical observation of two devices.Lasers in medical science · 2026Trial
- Comparison of Non-insulated Microneedle Fractional Radiofrequency and Ablative Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser for the Treatment of Facial Atrophic Acne Scarring: A Pilot Randomized Split-face Clinical Study.Acta dermato-venereologica · 2025Trial
- Microneedling Radiofrequency Versus Fractional Laser for the Treatment of Acne Scars: A Systematic Review with Descriptive Quantitative Synthesis.Aesthetic plastic surgery · 2026Review
- Review
- The Use of a Fractional Laser in Acne Scar Treatment-A Systematic Review.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Established and Emerging Laser Treatments for Acne Vulgaris in Diverse Skin Types.The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology · 2025Review
- An International Survey on the Use of a Polyrevitalizing Solution With or Without Other Aesthetic Procedures in the Daily Practice of Aesthetic Physicians.Journal of cosmetic dermatology · 2025Article
- Needle Radiofrequency Combined with Topical Exosome Therapy for Moderate to Severe Acne.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Leveraging Microneedles for Raised Scar Management.Polymers · 2025Review
- Effectiveness and safety of the modified multiple mode procedures versus traditional multiple mode procedures on treating facial atrophic acne scars: a propensity score matching retrospective cohort study.Lasers in medical science · 2024Article
- Microneedling in Dermatology: A Comprehensive Review of Applications, Techniques, and Outcomes.Cureus · 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
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeFractional microneedle radiofrequency (FMR) systems are used to treat inflammatory acne and scarring. Nonetheless, few controlled studies have combined this treatment with the traditional ablative fractional laser (AFL). We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of the combination of FMR and AFL versus AFL alone in treating acne and acne scars. MATERIALS AND
methodsIn this 20-week, randomized, split-face study, 23 Korean patients with facial acne and acne scars underwent FMR and AFL treatments. One half of each patient's face was randomly assigned to receive FMR+AFL, whereas the other half received AFL alone. Treatments were administered in three consecutive sessions at 4-week intervals. This study investigated the severity of inflammatory acne, acne scars, individual lesion counts, depressed scar volumes, as well as patient and physician satisfaction. In addition, five patients underwent skin biopsy, and sebum output was measured.
resultsThe FMR+AFL treatment demonstrated superior efficacy compared to AFL alone in terms of inflammatory acne and acne scar grading, lesion counts, and subjective satisfaction. The side effects were minimal and well-tolerated in both groups. Immunohistochemical findings from skin biopsy samples revealed that the application of FMR+AFL could induce an inhibitory effect on sebum secretion at the molecular level.
conclusionFMR combined with AFL is a well-tolerated and effective treatment modality for inflammatory acne and acne scarring.
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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.