From SCALE 2026: Microneedling Treatment Reduces Periorbital Wrinkle Severity

Key Takeaways

• A prospective, single-arm clinical study found significant improvement in periorbital wrinkles following treatment with a novel microneedling system.
• At Day 150, 80% of participants achieved at least a 1-grade improvement in periorbital lines, with a 42.2% reduction in wrinkle severity from baseline.
• Treatments were well tolerated across Fitzpatrick skin types I-VI, with no treatment-related adverse events reported.

A prospective clinical study presented at the 2026 Music City SCALE Annual Meeting demonstrated significant improvement in periorbital wrinkles following treatment with the SkinStylus SteriLock MicroSystem (Hydrafacial LLC). The study evaluated the safety and efficacy of the microneedling device in patients with varying degrees of facial rhytides and diverse skin types.

The single-arm, 2-center study enrolled 50 participants aged 34 to 72 years with baseline Lemperle wrinkle grades ranging from 1 to 4. Subjects underwent treatments at baseline and on Days 30, 60, and 90, with follow-up visits extending through Day 150. Investigators assessed wrinkle severity, skin texture, and laxity, while participants completed self-assessments and FACE-Q evaluations.

Blinded evaluator assessments showed statistically significant improvement across all facial regions studied. Periorbital lines demonstrated the greatest improvement, with mean wrinkle severity decreasing from 2.8 at baseline to 1.7 at Day 150, representing a 42.2% reduction (P < 0.0001). Eighty percent of participants achieved at least a 1-grade improvement in periorbital lines, and 32% achieved at least a 2-grade improvement. Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale assessments showed that 98% of physician evaluators reported noticeable improvement in overall appearance by Day 150. FACE-Q measures also demonstrated reductions in patient-reported concerns regarding facial lines and perceived aging.

No treatment-related adverse events were reported. Participants experienced transient erythema and mild-to-moderate discomfort that largely resolved within several days of treatment.

“The SkinStylus SteriLock MicroSystem demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in periorbital wrinkle severity through Day 150,” the authors wrote. “These findings support microneedling as a safe, minimally invasive, and effective option for targeted periocular rejuvenation.”

Source

Ablon G, Kizoulis M. Efficacy and safety of a microneedling device for the treatment of periorbital wrinkles: a prospective clinical study. Presented at: Music City SCALE Annual Meeting; May 13-17, 2026; Nashville, TN.