ArticleSkin health and disease2025
Efficacy and safety of microneedling with topical insulin compared with placebo in the treatment of atrophic scars: a prospective study and literature review.
Article in Skin health and disease, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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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.
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.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Atrophic scars, which affect many individuals and arise from various causes, currently lack a standardized treatment protocol. Recent studies suggest that combining microneedling with topical insulin (TI) may offer a promising new approach to improving the appearance of these scars. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of microneedling combined with TI for treating atrophic scars caused by acne, cutaneous leishmaniasis, striae alba and postoperative wounds. Additionally, we aimed to assess the impact of treatment on improving quality of life. Methods: A total of 158 patients with various types of atrophic scars were divided into two groups: one received microneedling with TI and the other received microneedling with a placebo. Each participant underwent 12 monthly sessions, followed by a 1-year follow-up to assess long-term outcomes. Primary outcomes were measured via the Goodman and Baron qualitative grading system and acne scarring grading system, along with patient satisfaction and Dermatology Life Quality Index scores. Results: A statistically significant improvement was observed in the TI group, as reported by patients and clinicians, especially regarding postacne and postleishmaniasis scars ( Conclusions: This study suggests that microneedling, when combined with TI, is a safe and effective standalone treatment for atrophic scars resulting from various causes. Additionally, this approach may enhance the quality of life for patients with this condition. However, further research with larger sample sizes is needed to validate these findings.
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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.