Efficacy of Biodegradable Microneedle Patches on Periorbital Wrinkles

Park, Jihun; Seo, Jimyung; Shin, Jung U; Jeong, Do Hyeon; Kim, Jung Dong; Lee, Kwang Hoon

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Biodegradable microneedle technology is a recently developed method to deliver medical and pharmaceutical medications into the skin, and is expected to yield better treatment results than topical application methods.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of hyaluronic acid (HA)-based microneedle patches and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-containing microneedle patches on periorbital wrinkle improvement.
METHODS
A 20-week randomized, double-blind study was performed. Twenty-five Korean patients with periorbital wrinkles and a wrinkle severity rating scale (WSRS) score above 2 were enrolled into the study. The patients completed the study using the two different types of patches on each side of the designated periorbital wrinkles area every other day for 8 weeks. Patients were requested for an additional 12-week follow up. Wrinkle improvements were assessed by WSRS score, subjective patient satisfaction score, and imaging analysis using the visiometer, corneometer, cutometer, and mexameter, respectively (Courage&Khazaka, Cologne, Germany).
RESULTS
Both the HA-based microneedle patch and EGF-containing HA-based microneedle patch had positive effects on WSRS score, patient satisfaction levels, and corneometer result with statistically significant differences. No significant side effects were noticed.
CONCLUSION
With respect to efficacy, no statistical difference between the two groups were noted, indicating that the anti-wrinkle effects of the microneedle patch may solely be due to the HA rather than the EGF.