Effect of Biodegradable Microneedle Acupuncture in Mild to Moderate Atopic Dermatitis: a single-blinded randomized controlled pilot trial

Objectives: The need for alternative therapies for atopic dermatitis (AD) has emerged due to the side effects of conventional therapies. Biodegradable microneedle acupuncture (BMA) is a novel medical device that overcame the shortcomings of traditional intradermal acupuncture (IDA), such as foreign...

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Main Authors: Soo-Yeon Park, Ji-Hoon Song, Nguyen Cong Duc, Gihyun Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute 2025-03-01
Series:Journal of Pharmacopuncture
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.journal-jop.org/journal/view.html?doi=10.3831/KPI.2025.28.1.69
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author Soo-Yeon Park
Ji-Hoon Song
Nguyen Cong Duc
Gihyun Lee
author_facet Soo-Yeon Park
Ji-Hoon Song
Nguyen Cong Duc
Gihyun Lee
author_sort Soo-Yeon Park
collection DOAJ
description Objectives: The need for alternative therapies for atopic dermatitis (AD) has emerged due to the side effects of conventional therapies. Biodegradable microneedle acupuncture (BMA) is a novel medical device that overcame the shortcomings of traditional intradermal acupuncture (IDA), such as foreign body feeling and allergic dermatitis. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BMA for patients with Mild to Moderate AD compared with the IDA. Methods: An assessor-blinded, parallel, non-superiority, randomized controlled pilot trial was conducted. Thirty adult participants were recruited from a single hospital and were equally divided into the experimental or control group. They were treated with BMA or IDA on both sides of LI11, ST36, and PC6 for four hours. Over four weeks, both interventions were performed eight times in total. The primary endpoint was the objective scoring AD (OSCORAD) index. The secondary endpoints were visual analog scale (VAS) for itch and sleep disturbance, dermatology life quality index (DLQI), skin hydration, and transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Results: Enrolled thirty participants completed the trial. After the trial, all endpoints remarkably improved compared with the baseline in both groups, except for the TEWL. Between the two interventions, there were no remarkable differences in the fourth week, except for the VAS score for itch and DLQI. No serious adverse events occurred during the study period. Conclusion: Both BMA and IDA were effective in improving Mild to Moderate AD, and they were safe. BMA can be an alternative to conventional acupuncture for patients with sensitive skin, including metal allergies.
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spelling doaj-art-6f9ea66e1c10405e99a13769fbfb01ea2025-08-20T03:40:01ZengKorean Pharmacopuncture InstituteJournal of Pharmacopuncture2093-69662025-03-01281697910.3831/KPI.2025.28.1.69KPI.2025.28.1.69Effect of Biodegradable Microneedle Acupuncture in Mild to Moderate Atopic Dermatitis: a single-blinded randomized controlled pilot trialSoo-Yeon Park0Ji-Hoon Song1Nguyen Cong Duc2Gihyun Lee3Department of Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology & Dermatology, College of Korean Medicine, Dongshin University, Naju, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology & Dermatology, College of Korean Medicine, Dongshin University, Naju, Republic of KoreaCollege of Korean Medicine, Dongshin University, Naju, Republic of KoreaCollege of Korean Medicine, Dongshin University, Naju, Republic of KoreaObjectives: The need for alternative therapies for atopic dermatitis (AD) has emerged due to the side effects of conventional therapies. Biodegradable microneedle acupuncture (BMA) is a novel medical device that overcame the shortcomings of traditional intradermal acupuncture (IDA), such as foreign body feeling and allergic dermatitis. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BMA for patients with Mild to Moderate AD compared with the IDA. Methods: An assessor-blinded, parallel, non-superiority, randomized controlled pilot trial was conducted. Thirty adult participants were recruited from a single hospital and were equally divided into the experimental or control group. They were treated with BMA or IDA on both sides of LI11, ST36, and PC6 for four hours. Over four weeks, both interventions were performed eight times in total. The primary endpoint was the objective scoring AD (OSCORAD) index. The secondary endpoints were visual analog scale (VAS) for itch and sleep disturbance, dermatology life quality index (DLQI), skin hydration, and transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Results: Enrolled thirty participants completed the trial. After the trial, all endpoints remarkably improved compared with the baseline in both groups, except for the TEWL. Between the two interventions, there were no remarkable differences in the fourth week, except for the VAS score for itch and DLQI. No serious adverse events occurred during the study period. Conclusion: Both BMA and IDA were effective in improving Mild to Moderate AD, and they were safe. BMA can be an alternative to conventional acupuncture for patients with sensitive skin, including metal allergies.http://www.journal-jop.org/journal/view.html?doi=10.3831/KPI.2025.28.1.69atopic dermatitisbiodegradable microneedle acupuncturethumbtack needlerandomized controlled trialefficacy
spellingShingle Soo-Yeon Park
Ji-Hoon Song
Nguyen Cong Duc
Gihyun Lee
Effect of Biodegradable Microneedle Acupuncture in Mild to Moderate Atopic Dermatitis: a single-blinded randomized controlled pilot trial
Journal of Pharmacopuncture
atopic dermatitis
biodegradable microneedle acupuncture
thumbtack needle
randomized controlled trial
efficacy
title Effect of Biodegradable Microneedle Acupuncture in Mild to Moderate Atopic Dermatitis: a single-blinded randomized controlled pilot trial
title_full Effect of Biodegradable Microneedle Acupuncture in Mild to Moderate Atopic Dermatitis: a single-blinded randomized controlled pilot trial
title_fullStr Effect of Biodegradable Microneedle Acupuncture in Mild to Moderate Atopic Dermatitis: a single-blinded randomized controlled pilot trial
title_full_unstemmed Effect of Biodegradable Microneedle Acupuncture in Mild to Moderate Atopic Dermatitis: a single-blinded randomized controlled pilot trial
title_short Effect of Biodegradable Microneedle Acupuncture in Mild to Moderate Atopic Dermatitis: a single-blinded randomized controlled pilot trial
title_sort effect of biodegradable microneedle acupuncture in mild to moderate atopic dermatitis a single blinded randomized controlled pilot trial
topic atopic dermatitis
biodegradable microneedle acupuncture
thumbtack needle
randomized controlled trial
efficacy
url http://www.journal-jop.org/journal/view.html?doi=10.3831/KPI.2025.28.1.69
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