Fractional Microneedling: A Novel Method for Enhancement of Topical Anesthesia Before Skin Aesthetic Procedures.

BACKGROUND

Skin microneedling or fractional microneedle therapy is a recent approach used for skin rejuvenation or to enhance transdermal delivery of topical medications.

OBJECTIVE

The authors evaluated the efficacy of skin microneedling, using an automated device, to enhance the numbing effect of topical anesthesia, used before minimally invasive aesthetic approaches.

METHODS

Fifteen patients, looking for treatment of atrophic acne scars, were subjected to randomized split-face study comparing automated fractional skin microneedling (0.5 mm depth) followed by application of topical anesthetic cream (Lidocaine 2.5% + Prilocaine 2.5%) on one side of face, with topical anesthesia alone on the other side, followed by full face fractional microneedling treatment for postacne scars (2.5 mm depth).

RESULTS

The treated sides (fractional needling + topical anesthesia) had significantly lower pain scores when compared with the nontreated sides (topical anesthesia alone). The scores of pain sensation, during the whole procedure, were statistically significantly (p < .0001) less on the treated sides (3.10 ± 1.09) of the face when compared with the nontreated sides (5.37 ± 0.99). There was also a statistically significant (p < .0001) difference in pain sensation scores between the 2 sides of the face after horizontal passes, as the mean scores of the treated and nontreated sides were 3.93 ± 0.59 and 6.20 ± 0.41, respectively.

LIMITATIONS: The small number of patients, yet the results show a significant difference.

CONCLUSION

Application of topical anesthesia for minimally invasive aesthetic procedures can be enhanced with fractional microneedling pretreatment.