The benefits and risks of singular and repetitive microneedling (1 mm) have not been thoroughly investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits and risks of singular and repetitive skin needling with a microneedling device in an animal model with and without skincare. 30 Sprague Dawley rats were randomized to five groups: control, skin-care only (Vitamin A & C), 1× needling 1 mm, 4× needling 1 mm, 4× needling 1 mm with skin-care. All animals were euthanized after 10 weeks. Skin specimens were stained with HE and Masson's trichrome. Additionally, gene expression analysis with microarray technique for various growth factors (TGFβ1-3, FGF, EGF, VEGF, TNF-α) and real time reverse transcription PCR for collagen I & III were conducted. We showed that singular microneedling matches and repetitive microneedling sessions superposition epidermal and dermal benefits such as an increase of epidermal thickness (up to 658% increase, p value 0.0008) and dermal connective tissue--even more so when combined with skin-care with vitamin A and C. Juvenile collagen I showed itself up-regulated in all groups, while collagen III was down-regulated. Singular and repetitive PCI with a microneedling device can achieve and supersede the results already shown with medical needling.
Keywords: Burn scars; Collagen; Epidermal thickening; Medical needling; Microneedling; Percutaneous collagen induction (PCI); Scar treatment.
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