This work was supported by the Soonchunhyang University Research Fund.
This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a dissolving microneedle (DMN)-encapsulated niacinamide skin patch to reduce facial hyperpigmentation.
A split-face study was conducted between April and June 2022 in 17 patients treated with a DMN-encapsulated niacinamide skin patch, which was applied only on the right side of the face, while the left face remained free of a pigmentation-improving agent. A topical moisturizer and physical sunscreen were applied on both sides of the face for 2 weeks. We compared both sides of the face 2 weeks after applying the skin patch using an automatic skin analysis device to investigate skin pigmentation. The melasma severity scores of both sides were evaluated before and 2 weeks after application.
A significant difference in the epidermal pigmentation score between pre-treatment and 2 weeks after treatment was noted on the right side (P<0.05), but not on the left side of the face (P>0.05). A significant difference in the melanin score between pre-treatment and 2 weeks after treatment was noted on the right side (P<0.05), but not on the left side (P>0.05) of the face. There was no significant difference in the melasma severity score on either side of the face between pre-treatment and 2 weeks after treatment (P>0.05).
The application of a DMN-encapsulated niacinamide skin patch to improve skin pigmentation may yield good outcomes and provide comfort to patients without any complications.
Facial hyperpigmentation plays an important role in facial appearance as people age. It is characterized by asymmetrical, irregular light brown to dark macules and patches on the malar area of the face [
Vitamin C can lead to decreased melanin synthesis via the inhibition of tyrosinase [
Transdermal therapy, including creams, gels, and ointments, is an alternative modality to treat local diseases; however, it has limitations because the stratum corneum prevents the entrance of foreign compounds into the skin [
To reduce facial hyperpigmentation, a DMN-encapsulated niacinamide skin patch was developed. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of using a DMN-encapsulated niacinamide skin patch to reduce facial hyperpigmentation.
We conducted a split-face study to evaluate the efficacy of the DMN-encapsulated niacinamide skin patch. Of the patients who applied a DMN-encapsulated niacinamide skin patch to reduce facial hyperpigmentation between April and June 2022, 17 patients (Fitzpatrick skin type III-IV), who understood and agreed with the rationale and methodology of this study were enrolled. We excluded patients with a history of keloid scars, recent use of oral retinoids, pregnancy, immunosuppressive drug use, active systemic or local infections, and a history of psychiatric illness.
The study conformed to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki, and written consent was obtained from each patient for both surgery and publication of photographs of the results. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital (IRB No. 2022-07-006).
Each side of the face was subjected to a different method of facial hyperpigmentation care to evaluate the efficacy of the DMN-encapsulated niacinamide skin patch (Keep Me Patch; SH Bio, Seoul, Korea) (
We evaluated the improvement in skin pigmentation on the face using an automatic skin analysis device (Mark-Vu; PSI Plus Co., Suwon, Korea) with UV light before and 2 weeks after facial hyperpigmentation care. The epidermal pigmentation score (EPS) and melanin score (MS) were analyzed using an automatic skin analysis device (Mark-Vu). The melasma severity score (MSS) has four grades of severity as follows: score 0, equivalent to surrounding normal skin or with minimal residual pigmentation; score 1, slightly darker; score 2, moderately darker; and score 3, markedly darker than the surrounding normal skin [
Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 20.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare the improvement in skin pigmentation and MSS before and 2 weeks after facial hyperpigmentation care. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05.
Of the 17 patients with environment-induced skin pigmentation who were treated with a DMN-encapsulated niacinamide skin patch, 16 were female and one was male. The mean age of the patients was 35.5 years (range, 27–51 years) and the mean follow-up period was 4 weeks (range, 4–6 weeks) (
Using a split-face study, we analyzed the efficacy of a DMN-encapsulated niacinamide skin patch in improving skin pigmentation (
The EPS on the right side of the face was significantly different between pre- and post-treatment (P<0.05) but not on the left side of the face (P>0.05) (
In addition, we evaluated the improvement in the MSS between both sides of the face. On the right side, the MSS was 1.0 (IQR, 1.0–2.0) and 1.0 (IQR, 1.0–1.5) pre-treatment and 2 weeks post-treatment, respectively, while on the left side of the face, the MSS was 1.0 (IQR, 1.0–1.5) and 1.0 (IQR, 1.0–2.0) pre-treatment and 2 weeks post-treatment, respectively. There were no significant differences on either side of the face between pre- and post-treatment (P>0.05) (
Niacinamide is the biologically active form of niacin (vitamin B3), and it can be used as a cosmetic moisturizer. Niacinamide is a precursor of enzyme cofactor groups, such as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate [
Numerous transdermal drug delivery systems have recently been developed for effective local and systemic therapy [
There was a significant difference in the EPS on the right side of the face, but not on the left side of the face. In particular, the EPS on the right side of the face deteriorated compared to its condition before treatment. A likely explanation is that post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) occurred when the small wound, which occurred when the DMN penetrated the skin, healed. We speculate that this involved a mechanism similar to that of PIH after fractional CO2 laser treatment. Vitamin C is usually used to treat PIH; therefore, we assumed that the EPS could be improved if our study had a long-term follow-up period.
There was a significant improvement in the MS on the right side of the face, but not on the left side of the face. Based on these results, we conclude that the DMN-encapsulated niacinamide skin patch has the potential to improve skin pigmentation by inhibiting the transfer of melanosomes from melanocytes to keratinocytes [
In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of a DMN-encapsulated niacinamide skin patch using a split-face study. The EPS of the right side of the face significantly worsened between pre-treatment and 2 weeks after treatment, and PIH seemed to result from DMN. The right side of the face, to which a DMN-encapsulated niacinamide skin patch was applied, exhibited a greater improvement in the MS than that of the left side, to which only topical moisturizer and physical sunscreen were administered. The differences in the MS improvement on the right side of the face were statistically significant, and we interpreted this finding as indicating that niacinamide inhibits the transfer of melanosomes from melanocytes to keratinocytes. We investigated the change in MSS scores on both sides of the face before and 2 weeks after treatment. However, there were no significant differences owing to the relatively short follow-up period. Based on our study, we believe that DMN-encapsulated niacinamide skin patches increase the early therapeutic effect of skin pigmentation through the inhibition of melanosome transfer, although PIH can be provoked by DMN at an early stage of treatment.
However, our study had some limitations. First, our study had a relatively short-term follow-up period; therefore, we did not evaluate full-term changes in skin pigmentation. Second, a small number of patients were enrolled in our study, which only included Asian populations with Fitzpatrick skin types III-IV. Therefore, we intend to conduct further studies with larger sample size, randomized design, relatively long-term follow-up period, and a broader population.
Despite these limitations, the application of a DMN-encapsulated niacinamide skin patch can provide a patient-friendly approach and an enhanced improvement in skin pigmentation.
Seung Min Nam, Han Gyu Cha, and Eun Soo Park are editorial board members of the journal but were not involved in the peer reviewer selection, evaluation, or decision process of this article. No other potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.
The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital (IRB No. 2022-07-006) and performed in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.
The patients provided written informed consent for the publication and use of their images.
Photographic findings of the dissolving microneedle-encapsulated niacinamide skin patch (Keep Me Patch, SH Bio) (A) and dissolving microneedles (B). Magnified findings of a dissolving microneedle (C).
Clinical photographs of a 32-year-old female patient with skin pigmentation. Ultraviolet (UV) photographs of the left side of the face on which topical moisturizer and physical sunscreen were applied, pre-treatment (A) and 2 weeks after treatment (B). UV photographs of the right side of the face, to which a dissolving microneedle-encapsulated skin patch was applied, pre-treatment (C) and 2 weeks after treatment (D).
On the right side of the face (administered a dissolving microneedle-encapsulated niacinamide skin patch), the epidermal pigmentation score was 15.0 (interquartile range [IQR], 10.5–19.0) pre-treatment and 17.0 (IQR, 11.5–19.0) at 2 weeks after treatment. The difference between pre-treatment and 2 weeks after treatment was statistically significant (P<0.05). On the left side of the face (administered topical moisturizer and physical sunscreen), the epidermal pigmentation score was 15.0 (IQR, 9.5–19.5) pre-treatment and 16.0 (IQR, 12.0–18.0) 2 weeks after treatment. The difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05).
On the right side of the face (administered a dissolving microneedle-encapsulated niacinamide skin patch), the melanin score was 19.0 (interquartile range [IQR], 15.0–22.0) pre-treatment and 17.0 (IQR, 14.5–19.5) at 2 weeks after treatment. The difference between pre-treatment and 2 weeks after treatment was statistically significant (P<0.05). On the left side of the face (administered topical moisturizer and physical sunscreen), the melanin score was 18.0 (IQR, 15.0–20.5) pre-treatment and 19.0 (IQR, 15.5–21.5) at 2 weeks after treatment. The difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05).
The melasma severity score between the right and left sides of the face. On the right side, the melasma severity score was 1.0 (interquartile range [IQR], 1.0–2.0) pre-treatment and 1.0 (IQR, 1.0–1.5) at 2 weeks after treatment. On the left side, the melasma severity score was 1.0 (IQR, 1.0–1.5) pre-treatment and 1.0 (IQR, 1.0–2.0) at 2 weeks after treatment. The difference was not significant on both sides of the face (P>0.05).
Demographic characteristics of patients
Variable | Value (n = 17) |
---|---|
Sex | |
Male | 1 (5.8) |
Female | 16 (94.2) |
Age (yr) | 35.5 (27–51) |
Fitzpatrick skin type | |
III | 3 (17.6) |
IV | 14 (82.4) |
Values are presented as number (%) or mean (range).