The Benefits of Shockwave Therapy on Skin – Experimental Study
Title: Effects of the extracorporeal shock wave therapy on the skin: an experimental study
Authors: Thayná Melo de Lima Morais, Patrícia Froes Meyer, Liliane Santos de Vasconcellos, Julio Costa e Silva, Ito Ferreira e Andrade, Vinicius Alves Freire de Farias, Igor Candido da Silva, Roberta Marinho Falcão Gondim Araújo, Rodrigo Marcel Valentim da Silva, Esteban Fortuny Pacheco, Ciro Dantas Soares
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is widely known for its biological benefits and is widely used in esthetical procedures. However, its effects on the skin are not yet fully understood. A study was conducted on female rats to determine the effects of ESWT on the skin. The rats were treated with one or two sessions of ESWT, and histological and immunohistochemical analyses were performed on their skin samples.
The results showed that ESWT increased the collagen content, microvessel density, and thickness of the epidermis and dermis, as well as overexpressed basic fibroblastic growth factor (FGF2) in both layers of the skin. Additionally, FGFR1 was increased only in the group treated with two ESWT sessions at 21-days post-treatment. Furthermore, ESWT-treated groups showed a reduction in the thickness of subcutaneous fat tissue.
The study concludes that ESWT can promote neocollagenesis and neoangiogenesis, as well as upregulate FGF2 expression, which is a key factor in the mechanism of action. These results suggest that ESWT could be a potential non-invasive treatment for skin rejuvenation, and its use may benefit patients with skin damage or aging-related concerns.