Comparative effects of intradermal mesobotox and L-carnitine injection on facial sebum reduction

Objectives: To compare the effects of intradermal L-carnitine and mesobotox injections on facial sebum reduction and to evaluate the potential of intradermal L-carnitine as an alternative treatment for oily and acne-prone skin. Introduction: Mesobotox is widely used in aesthetic practice to reduce facial sebum production and improve oily, acne-prone skin. However, its use is associated with several limitations, including the risk of unwanted muscle weakness due to the superficial location of facial mimetic muscles and the need for repeated treatments because its effects typically last only a few months. L-carnitine has been reported in several studies to reduce sebum production after approximately one month of topical or systemic use. However, evidence regarding its efficacy when administered through intradermal injection is curre Materials / method: A pilot split-face study was conducted involving two female subjects aged 30 years with oily and acne-prone skin. Each participant received intradermal injections of L-carnitine 400 mg on the left side of the face and mesobotox 10 units diluted in a total of 2 mL normal saline on the right side. Standardized facial photographs and skin analyses were obtained before and after treatment using the Quantificare imaging system. Changes in facial oiliness parameters were compared between the treated sides. Results: In the first subject, the facial oiliness parameter improved by 25 points on the mesobotox-treated side and by 18 points on the L-carnitine-treated side. In the second subject, improvements of 8 points and 5 points were observed on the mesobotox and L-carnitine sides, respectively. Both treatments demonstrated a reduction in facial oiliness, with mesobotox showing a greater magnitude of improvement compared to intradermal L-carnitine in both subjects. Conclusion: Both intradermal mesobotox and L-carnitine injections demonstrated the potential to reduce facial sebum production in subjects with oily and acne-prone skin. Although the effect of L-carnitine appeared less pronounced than mesobotox, the observed improvement suggests that intradermal L-carnitine may represent a promising alternative treatment. Larger controlled studies are required to determine its statistical significance, optimal dosage, treatment protocol, and duration of effect