Dissolving Triamcinolone-Embedded Microneedles for the Treatment of Keloids: A Single-Blinded Intra-Individual Controlled Clinical Trial

• Published in: Dermatology and therapy Vol. 9; no. 3; pp. 601 - 611
• Main Authors: Tan, Colin W. X., Tan, Wei Ding, Srivastava, Ruchir, Yow, Ai Ping, Wong, Damon W. K., Tey, Hong Liang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cheshire Springer Healthcare 01.09.2019; Springer; Springer Nature B.V; Adis, Springer Healthcare
• Subjects: Care and treatment; Clinical trials; Dermatology; Diagnosis; Dosage and administration; Drug delivery systems; Evidence-based medicine; Hypodermic needles; Internal Medicine; Keloids; Medical research; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Medicine, Experimental; Microneedle drug delivery; Microneedles; Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; Original Research; Plastic Surgery; Quality of Life Research; Scars; Skin diseases; Testing; Triamcinolone; Singapore; Keloids; Scars; Microneedles
• ISSN: 2193-8210; 2190-9172
• DOI: 10.1007/s13555-019-00316-3

Introduction Keloids are a prevalent chronic skin disorder with significant psychosocial morbidity. Intralesional corticosteroid injections are the first-line treatment but are painful and require repeated injections by medical professionals. Dissolving microneedles are a novel method of cutaneous drug delivery that induces minimal/no pain and can be self-administered. The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of triamcinolone-embedded dissolving microneedles in treatment of keloids. Methods This was a single-blind, intra-individual controlled two-phase clinical trial of 8-week duration each. Two keloids per subject were selected for (1) once-daily 2-min application with microneedles for 4 weeks, followed by no treatment for the next 4 weeks, or (2) non-intervention as control. Primary outcome was change in keloid volume as assessed by a high-resolution 3D scanner. Results There was significant reduction in keloid volume compared with controls after 4 weeks of treatment. This reduction was greater with a higher dosage of triamcinolone used. Conclusions Once-daily application of dissolving triamcinolone-embedded microneedles significantly reduced the volume of keloids. The treatment was safe, can be self-administered and can serve as an alternative for patients unsuitable for conventional treatments. Trial Registration Trial Registry: Health Science Authority (Singapore) Clinical Trials Register Registration number: 2015/00440.