Safety and efficacy of fractional radiofrequency for the treatment and reduction of acne scarring: A prospective study

Abstract

Objectives: Skin rejuvenation with radiofrequency has been a widely used treatment modality for the safe and efficient remodeling of the dermis and revision of textural irregularities, achieved with minimal downtime. The efficacy of fractional radiofrequency (FRF) specifically for acne scarring has not been widely established. The objective of this clinical trial was to establish the efficacy and safety of FRF for moderate to severe acne scarring in a wide range of Fitzpatrick skin types using two different applicator tips to deliver energy to the skin (80-pin of up to 124 mJ/pin and 160-pin of up to 62 mJ/pin). Methods: Enrolled subjects received a series of three FRF treatments to the full face, each 4 weeks apart. A visual analog scale was utilized to assess pain of the treatment. Subject satisfaction questionnaires were completed at follow-up visits at 6 and 12 weeks post final treatment. Photographs were graded for change by three blinded evaluators using the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS). Results: Image sets of 23 enrolled subjects were assessed by blinded evaluation, showing a statistically significant improvement (p = 0.009) from the baseline visit to the 12-week follow-up on the GAIS for acne scarring. Subject satisfaction was high with subjects giving an average satisfaction score of 3.27 ("satisfied") out of 4. Pain was "mild" as treatments were rated an average of 2.15 on a 10-point visual analog scale. The GAIS score of the 80-pin tip improved patients' acne scars treated with that applicator by 1.06 points and 0.85 for the 160-pin tip. Ninety-five percent (95.5%) of subjects reported either a mild, moderate, or significant improvement to their treatment area. Ninety-one percent of subjects reported that they would recommend the treatment to a friend. Conclusion: FRF produced a statistically significant improvement in acne scarring when assessed by independent blinded evaluators. No serious adverse events resulted from treatment by either applicator tip. Treatment pain was low and tolerable among subjects of all Fitzpatrick skin types. Subjects had high levels of satisfaction with the results.

Meta‐analysis of fractional radiofrequency treatment for acne and/or acne scars

“…The subgroup analysis suggests that FRF‐induced collagen synthesis and epidermal remodeling may take more time than the laser group. Eubanks et al recently reported that the overall satisfaction rates after FRF treatment at the 6‐week follow‐up did not differ significantly from the 12‐week follow‐up 24 . However, we still found in this study that the proportion of patients who reported >50% improvement was 68.1% (15/22) at 12 weeks, which was higher than the proportion of 52.1% (12/23) at 6‐week follow‐up.…”

Fractional radiofrequency‐assisted delivery of fluorescent tracer dyes in ex vivo and in vivo skin: A proof‐of‐concept investigation using confocal microscopy

“…2,3 FRFdevices have been successfully used in the treatment of various skin conditions including scars, rhytids, and hyperpigmentation. [4][5][6] In this descriptive proof-of-concept investigation, we sought to visualize FRF-induced tissue interactions and provide the first pre-clinical findings on FRF-assisted delivery of fluorescent tracer dyes in skin.…”

Fractional CO2‐laser versus microneedle radiofrequency for acne scars: A randomized, single treatment, split‐face trial

“…MNRF is considered safer in darker skin types and may reduce downtime after treatment compared with AFL. AFL on the other hand, may more effectively remodel deeper boxcar scars 8,17,24 …”