The effect of microneedling on scars resulting from induced cutaneous injuries in rats

Introduction: Being healthy corresponds to a state of absolute well-being. Scars are examples of con- ditions that endanger patients’ emotional integrity, compromising their quality of life. Consequently, there are several therapeutic alternatives aimed at alleviating aesthetic disorders. Microneedling stimu- lates collagen production, improving the healing effect in the induced cutaneous injury.
Objective: to evaluate the effect of microneedling in the scars of surgically induced cutaneous wounds in rats.
Methods: Twenty-four male rats were distributed in five study groups. A surgically induced incision was inflicted on the animals’ dorsa in all study groups, with the healing processes being followed up until completion.The study groups GC-14 and GC-30 served as controls for the groups GCM-14 and GCM-30, respectively
Results: Reepithelialization and absence of granulation tissue were identified in 100% of the groups. Regarding the proportion of fibrosis, mean reductions of 19% and 4% were observed in GCM-14 and GCM-30, respectively. There was a stimulus to the production of type I and III collagen in the groups that underwent microneedling, with a greater amount of type I collagen in GCM-14 (62.1%) as compared to its control (37.8%).
Conclusions: Microneedling was effective in stimulating increased production of collagen fibers in 14 days, suggesting this treatment tends improve scars.

Keywords: Cicatrix; Collagen; Models, animal