Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Sebaceous hyperplasia is a prevalent comorbidity in dermatology. However, there is a notable absence of an effective and safe treatment modality in current clinical practice. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of single-needle radiofrequency for treating facial sebaceous hyperplasia. METHODS: A retrospective study was undertaken, enrolling patients diagnosed with facial sebaceous hyperplasia that spanned from December 2021 to August 2023 in the department of dermatology, Zhongshan Hospital (Xiamen), Fudan University. Dermoscopy was employed for the objective evaluation before treatment and at 4-week intervals following each treatment session. The Pain Visual Analogue Scale was assessed by each patient immediately after treatment. The treatment endpoint was defined as the absence of more than 50% visible white-yellowish globules under dermoscopy. Treatment responses were classified as optimal, good, and poor, determined by the regression rate of skin lesions, set at over 90%, 50%-90%, and below 50%, respectively. All patients were subsequently subjected to follow-up examinations every 4 weeks for a period of 6 months, along with an assessment of any complications. Patients underwent systematic follow-up assessments at 24-72 h for acute complications and every 4 weeks for 6 months to evaluate long-term outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 45 patients were included, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.8:1. The mean age of onset was 42.9 ± 9.6 years. Forty-four patients (97.8%) achieved optimal outcomes, while one patient (2.2%) showed a good result. The average number of treatments required was 2.2 ± 0.8. Male patients required more treatment sessions and a wider pulse width compared to female patients (p < 0.05). During the follow-up, only one case (2.2%) experienced a relapse. Complications following treatment included redness (100%) and crusting (8.9%). The average treatment pain score was recorded as 2.6 ± 0.5. CONCLUSION: The use of single-needle radiofrequency proves to be an effective and safe treatment for patients with sebaceous hyperplasia. Dermoscopy emerges as a valuable auxiliary tool for evaluation.