Medical Needling: effect on skin tension and elasticity of hypertrophic burn scars

Abstract

Burn scars are a serious psychological and physiological problem for affected individuals. Clinical studies and scientific research have shown that Medical Needling improves scar quality in terms of skin elasticity, moisture, transepidermal water loss and erythema. At the same time, patients are confronted with a comparatively low-risk therapy without any postoperative complications. The goal of our study was to examine the influence of Medical Needling on mature hypertrophic scars with regard to skin elasticity and tension. A total of 20 patients with an average age of 34.6 years and second or third-degree burn scars were treated. Scars that were at least 2 years old and had healed by secondary intention met the criteria for inclusion in the study. Medical Needling is performed using a roller covered with needles of 3 mm length. The needling device is rolled over the scar in three directions: vertically, horizontally and diagonally. The procedure of puncture leads to multiple micro wounds and intradermal bleeding, which induces the post needling regeneration cascade. The patients were followed up for 12 months postoperatively. The results were evaluated by means of objective and subjective measurement methods. Objective measurements show that Medical Needling improves pathological values of skin tension and elasticity. Depending on the scarring, a reduction in tension or an increased tightness of overstrained and lax skin was recorded. Rigid scars gained vital features and profited from a physiological degree of elasticity. Medical Needling proves to be a promising approach for the treatment of mature hypertrophic scars with pathological changes of skin elasticity and tension.