ArticleDermatology and therapy2026
Transdermal Delivery of Poly-L-Lactic Acid via Fractional Microneedle Radiofrequency for Atrophic Acne Scars: A Split-Face Randomized Study in Fitzpatrick Skin Types III to V.
Article in Dermatology and therapy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Regenerative Functional Microspheres for Aesthetic Medicine: Mechanism, Materials, Fabrication, and Clinical Applications.Advanced healthcare materials · 2026Review
- Article
- Radiofrequency Microneedling-Mediated Enhancement in Percutaneous Delivery of Topical Triamcinolone Acetonide: An In Vivo Quantitative Study.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionFractional microneedle radiofrequency (FMRF) and poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) each promote dermal remodeling through distinct mechanisms and have demonstrated efficacy as monotherapies for atrophic acne scars (AAS). The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combining FMRF with transdermal PLLA delivery compared with sterile water in Asian patients with moderate-to-severe AAS.
methodsIn this randomized, split-face, evaluator-blinded clinical trial, 24 participants underwent two monthly FMRF sessions. Immediately after each session, a reconstituted PLLA suspension was applied to one facial half for transdermal delivery through the FMRF-created microchannels, while sterile water was applied to the contralateral side. Outcomes were assessed using three-dimensional imaging (Antera® 3D), standardized photography, and patient self-assessments over a 6-month follow-up. Safety was monitored throughout the study.
resultsPLLA-treated sides demonstrated statistically significant improvements in skin texture and scar volume at 6 months compared with baseline and with control sides (p < 0.05). Patient-reported outcomes paralleled objective findings, with a higher proportion of participants reporting > 75% improvement on the PLLA-treated side. Adverse events were of low incidence, transient, self-limited, and no serious complications occurred.
conclusionsCombining FMRF with transdermal PLLA delivery is a safe and effective approach for moderate-to-severe AAS in Asian patients. The combination produced progressive, sustained, and clinically meaningful improvements compared with FMRF alone.
trial registrationThai Clinical Trials Registry: TCTR20250803007.
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.