Microneedling2 Pushing the Needle

Microneedling is quickly becoming a go-to procedure for the treatment of many dermatologic conditions, and a new review study suggests that the technology is also safe for skin of color. The findings appear in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

“Conventional resurfacing procedures are known to be limited in these patients due to risks of hyperpigmentation and scarring, but microneedling appears to be overall safe and effective,” says study author Nada Elbuluk, MD, an assistant professor at the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City.

The 16 studies included in the review looked at microneedling to treat scarring, melasma, melanosis, skin rejuvenation, acne vulgaris, and primary hyperhidrosis. Risks may include transient erythema and/or hyperpigmentation, but tend to be device- or operator-dependent, she says.

Tram track marking did not happen frequently, she says. “In cases where it was reported, it was thought to be an event related to the operator and device.”
Some doctors use microneedling to create tiny channels in the skin that allow for enhanced transdermal drug delivery. In these cases, “the side effects that have occurred are often from the combination of the microneedling and the topical,” she says. “The microneedling itself is not causing significant side effects, but some of these topicals have previously only been used on the surface of the skin, and now with deeper penetration in the skin are sometimes causing more of a reaction in the skin.”

Source: http://bit.ly/1lB6EfA

Did You Know?

More than 50% of the US population will have skin of color by 2050. This includes African Americans, Asians, Hispanics or Latinos, Native Americans and Pacific Islanders primarily, and individuals from these groups who have intermarried.

The Skin of Color Society was established in 2004 to promote awareness of and excellence within the area of special interest of dermatology—skin of color.

Learn more: http://skinofcolorsociety.org/

3% to 18%

The degree to which individuals with darker skin are more prone to keloid scarring.