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TOPLINE:

Nonablative monopolar radiofrequency appeared to be an effective and safe treatment for patients with moderate to severe acne in a small study conducted in Thailand.

METHODOLOGY:

• Lasers and energy-based devices have gained attention as potential treatments for acne.
• Researchers investigated efficacy and safety of nonablative monopolar radiofrequency (NMRF; Thermage FLX) for treating acne in a non-randomized study of 21 women and 3 men with moderate to severe acne (mean age, 27.3 years).
• Two NMRF treatment sessions were spaced 4 weeks apart, and the researchers used imaging software to quantify lesion counts, pore size and volume, and sebum production.
• Study participants were asked to self-evaluate the degree of improvement from baseline with a 10-point Likert scale. They also completed the Thai version of the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire.

TAKEAWAY:

• Among the 20 patients who completed the treatments, the mean inflammatory lesion counts were reduced by 42.86% from baseline at 3 months (P = .0027) and by 45.71% at 6 months (P = .032) after the second treatment.
• Similarly, sebum excretion significantly decreased from baseline by 11.62% 1 month after the first treatment (P = .012), by 13.37% 1 month after the second treatment (P < .001), and by 21.51% 6 months after the second treatment (P = .004).
• Pore volume had decreased by 35% 1 month following the final treatment (P = .003) and by 41.5% 6 months following the final treatment (P < .001).
• Median DLQI scores significantly decreased from 10.00 at baseline to 5.50 1 month after the first treatment and by 2.00 1 month after the second visit, which corresponded to an 80% improvement from baseline. Patient self-assessment scores also demonstrated significant improvement over the span of the study.

IN PRACTICE:

The results of this study, thought to be the first comprehensive evaluation of NMRF as a treatment for acne, "underscore the importance of conducting further clinical trials and considering the evaluation of the potential therapeutic advantages of NMRF in treating" acne, the authors wrote.

SOURCE:

First author Woraphong Manuskiatti, MD, of the Department of Dermatology at Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, led the research, which was published in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.

LIMITATIONS:

The limited sample size, lack of a control group, and the fact that study participants shared similar ethnic backgrounds. Also, only three of the study participants were male.

DISCLOSURES:

The authors reported having no financial disclosures.