Facial Skin Barrier Function Recovery After Microneedle Transdermal Delivery Treatment

BACKGROUND Microneedle treatment is currently used in the cosmetic industry for several skin conditions. Despite their extensive use, there is lack of sufficient data on the safety of microneedles. OBJECTIVE To investigate the degree of acute skin damage and the time required for facial skin barrier function to recover using different microneedle lengths and numbers of applications. MATERIALS AND METHODS Each side of a volunteer's face was randomly treated with one of the following treatments: five applications of 0.15-mm microneedles, five applications of 0.25-mm microneedles, 10 applications of 0.15-mm microneedles, or 10 applications of 0.25-mm microneedles. Transepidermal water loss, stratum corneum hydration, and skin erythema were measured at baseline, immediately after treatment, 4 hours after treatment, and 8 hours after treatment and at 24-hour intervals for 3 days. RESULTS Prompt recovery of barrier function (within 72 hours) was observed after microneedle treatment. CONCLUSION Microneedle treatment is simple and inexpensive, and the skin barrier disruption it causes resolves quickly. Therefore, it can serve as an effective physical method of enhancing transdermal delivery of medications for the treatment of many cosmetic and dermatological conditions.