Efficacy and safety of intense pulsed light in treatment of melasma in Chinese patients

BACKGROUND Melasma is commonly seen in the Asian population. Traditional therapies are less effective and may cause adverse effects. OBJECTIVE The objective was to study the efficacy and safety of a new intense pulsed light (IPL) device in the treatment of melasma in Chinese patients. METHODS Eighty-nine women with melasma were enrolled in this open-labeled study. Subjects received a total of four IPL treatments at 3-week intervals. Changes in facial hyperpigmentation and telangiectasis were evaluated using an objective, skin colorimeter (Mexameter, Courage & Khazaka), the melasma area and severity index (MASI), and a global evaluation by the patients and blind investigators. RESUTS Sixty-nine of 89 patients (77.5%) obtained 51% to 100% improvement, according to the overall evaluation by dermatologists. Self-assessment by the patients indicated that 63 of 89 patients (70.8) considered more than 50% or more improvement. Mean MASI scores decreased substantially from 15.2 to 4.5. Mexameter results demonstrated a significant decrease in the degree of pigmentation and erythema beneath the melasma lesions. Patients with the epidermal-type melasma responded better to treatment than the mixed type. Adverse actions were minimal. CONCLUSION IPL treatment is a good option for patients with melasma. Adverse actions of IPL were minimal and acceptable.