A Clinical and Biochemical Evaluation of a Temperature-Controlled Continuous Non-Invasive Radiofrequency Device for the Treatment of Melasma
Soon‐Hyo Kwon, Jung‐Im Na, Chang‐Hun Huh, Kyoung‐Chan Park
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Melasma shows characteristic histological features of photoaged skin. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the effect of dermal rejuvenation using a temperature-controlled continuous non-invasive radiofrequency (RF) device on melasma. METHODS: Continuous skin heating at the temperature of 43°C for 20 minutes was performed in ten subjects with melasma who underwent 3 tri-weekly RF sessions. Pigmentation was evaluated with Mexameter® and investigator's global assessment (IGA). Immunohistochemical staining and image analysis was performed to evaluate biopsies from melasma skin before and after the treatment. RESULTS: -positive senescent fibroblasts was reduced after the treatment, while the expression of heat shock protein 70 and 90 was increased. Stromal derived factor-1, a senescence-associated anti-melanogenic factor secreted from the fibroblasts, was up-regulated after the treatment, while the level of c-kit was not changed. CONCLUSION: Thermal skin stimulation by the temperature-controlled continuous RF device improved melasma through dermal rejuvenation.