BACKGROUND: Recently, intense pulsed light (IPL) and low-fluence Q-switched neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum (LF-QS-Nd:YAG) laser have been successfully used to treat melasma. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of combined novel fractionated IPL (IPL-F) with LF-QS-Nd:YAG laser in patients with melasma. METHODS: Twelve patients underwent 6 treatment sessions of concomitant IPL-F and LF-QS-Nd:YAG laser (combination group), and12 patients underwent 6 treatment session of IPL-F alone (IPL only group). Partial melasma area and severity index (MASI) scores were evaluated by 2 dermatologists using digital photography. RESULTS: In the combination group, the partial MASI score has significantly decreased by 47% at 1 month after the treatment (p < .05) and 50% at 2 months after the last treatment (p < .01). At 1 month and 2 months after the treatment, the decrease in the partial MASI score of the combination group was significantly larger than that of the IPL only group (p < .05). In both groups, treatment with IPL-F and LF-QS-Nd:YAG laser was well tolerated. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the combination of the IPL-F with LF-QS-Nd:YAG laser may be an effective and safe modality for melasma patients.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Recently, intense pulsed light (IPL) and low-fluence Q-switched neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum (LF-QS-Nd:YAG) laser have been successfully used to treat melasma. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of combined novel fractionated IPL (IPL-F) with LF-QS-Nd:YAG laser in patients with melasma. METHODS: Twelve patients underwent 6 treatment sessions of concomitant IPL-F and LF-QS-Nd:YAG laser (combination group), and 12 patients underwent 6 treatment session of IPL-F alone (IPL only group). Partial melasma area and severity index (MASI) scores were evaluated by 2 dermatologists using digital photography. RESULTS: In the combination group, the partial MASI score has significantly decreased by 47% at 1 month after the treatment (p < .05) and 50% at 2 months after the last treatment (p < .01). At 1 month and 2 months after the treatment, the decrease in the partial MASI score of the combination group was significantly larger than that of the IPL only group (p < .05). In both groups, treatment with IPL-F and LF-QS-Nd:YAG laser was well tolerated. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the combination of the IPL-F with LF-QS-Nd:YAG laser may be an effective and safe modality for melasma patients.