Why carry out this study?

Despite the abundance of preexisting studies on various treatment modalities and therapeutic agents, complete resolution and long-term control of melasma remain elusive.

Radiofrequency has been shown to produce dermal changes in melasma lesions, whereas polynucleotides have been investigated for antimelanogenesis effects.

This study aimed to compare the efficacy of a pulsed, bipolar, microneedling radiofrequency device combined with polynucleotides versus radiofrequency alone for the treatment of melasma.

What was learned from the study?

Improvements in objective and subjective outcome measures were observed in 26 patients after 3 treatments at 2-week intervals. Recurrence of melasma was observed in three patients at 2, 3, and 4 months after the last treatment.

Pulsed, bipolar, microneedling radiofrequency with polynucleotides was not superior to microneedling radiofrequency alone in the treatment of melasma.

Microneedling radiofrequency may be considered as a safe adjunctive treatment option for melasma.