Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42094857›Full record

ArticleClinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology2026

A Retrospective Analysis of Radiofrequency Microneedling for Melasma Management in the Japanese Population.

Akiko Imaizumi, Aira Fujimaki, Narendra Kumar

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Akiko ImaizumiDepartment of Dermatology, Imaizumi Skin Clinic, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Aira FujimakiDepartment of Dermatology, Imaizumi Skin Clinic, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan.ORCID 0009-0005-8270-3301
Narendra KumarGlobal Medical Affairs, Jeisys Medical Inc., Seoul, Republic of Korea.ORCID 0000-0003-4911-9726

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Melasma is a chronic pigmentary disorder with multifactorial pathogenesis and significant psychosocial impact. Although radiofrequency microneedling has emerged as a dermal-targeting adjunctive therapy, real-world evidence regarding its clinical effects and safety is limited. Objective: To evaluate the real-world clinical response and safety of POTENZA Methods: A retrospective observational before-and-after study was conducted at a private dermatology center in Japan. Adult patients with clinically diagnosed melasma who underwent POTENZA Results: A total of 29 female patients (mean age, 45.2 ± 7.9 years) were included in the study. The median baseline mMASI score was 6 (IQR 4-12) and remained 6 (IQR 4-8) after treatment, with no statistically significant difference between the time points (p = 0.16). Overall, 26 patients (89.7%) demonstrated stable or improved mMASI scores post procedure. Percentage-based analyses showed substantial interindividual variability: 27.6% of patients achieved≥25% and ≥30% reductions in mMASI, and 10.3% achieved≥50% reduction. Patient satisfaction was reported in 62.1% of the cases. All patients experienced mild, transient erythema that resolved without sequelae, and no serious adverse events were observed. Conclusion: In this real-world study involving Japanese patients, POTENZA

Indexed as

hyperpigmentationMASImelasmamMASIPOTENZAradiofrequency microneedling

Identifiers

PMID42094857
PMCPMC13142691

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.