Selective Cryolysis of Sebaceous Glands

Overview

Journal J Invest Dermatol

Publisher Elsevier

Specialty Dermatology

Date 2015 Apr 11

PMID 25860384

Citations 8

Authors

H Ray Jalian

Joshua Tam

Linh N Vuong

Jeremy Fisher

Lilit Garibyan

Martin C Mihm

David Zurakowski

Conor L Evans

R Rox Anderson

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Acne vulgaris is a nearly universal cutaneous inflammatory disease. Excess sebum production is an integral part of disease pathogenesis. Medical therapies that reduce sebum excretion result in clinical improvement of acne. Given the preferential susceptibility of lipid-containing cells to cold, we investigated the hypothesis that controlled local skin cooling causes preferential injury to sebaceous glands, in murine and swine models using a range of temperatures as low as -10 °C, and then on the backs of human subjects. In mouse ears, peak histologic damage occurred 72 hours after treatment; eosinophilic necrotic plugs formed within sebaceous glands, and the number of glands was significantly reduced up to 1 week post treatment. Cooling disrupted sebocyte cell membranes, alkaline phosphatase activity, and significantly reduced sebocyte lipid content. In human volunteers, cooling damaged sebaceous glands and reduced sebum output for 2 weeks, with minimal injury to surrounding tissues. Selective cryolysis of sebaceous glands is achievable through brief, non-invasive skin cooling, suggesting that controlled cooling could be developed as an effective treatment for acne vulgaris.

Citing Articles

Atrophic meibomian gland dysfunction induced by eyelid margin cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen.

Wang S, Li Y, Gao J, Lin J, Jin X, Zhang H Sci Rep. 2025; 15(1):754.

PMID: 39755782 PMC: 11700185. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-84742-0.

Targeted precision cryotherapy for acne vulgaris.

Hong J, Kim K, Kim H, Seok J, Park K Skin Res Technol. 2024; 30(9):e70045.

PMID: 39221850 PMC: 11367662. DOI: 10.1111/srt.70045.

and Activity of a New N-Oxide Derivative for Acne Vulgaris Treatment.

Delgado I, Scarim C, Fernandes F, Barbieri K, Polesi M, Pavan A Med Chem. 2024; 21(1):32-45.

PMID: 39082171 DOI: 10.2174/0115734064306187240722070225.

Effect of a Precision Cryotherapy Device with Temperature-Adjustability on Mice with -Induced Inflammation.

Kwack M, Lee S, Ha G, Kim G, Lee W Ann Dermatol. 2023; 35(6):461-475.

PMID: 38086360 PMC: 10733072. DOI: 10.5021/ad.22.054.

Revisiting the Role of Local Cryotherapy for Acne Treatment: A Review and Update.

Rho N J Clin Med. 2023; 12(1).

PMID: 36614827 PMC: 9821281. DOI: 10.3390/jcm12010026.

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