Introduction: Melasma is one of the most common skin pigmentation disorders, which mostly affects the facial skin and has a considerable psychological impact on the patients. Melasma management has been one of the controversial issues in dermatology. We aimed to compare the combined treatment of the Er: YAG (erbium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet) laser plus hydroquinone (HQ) 4% with HQ 4% alone in the treatment of melasma. Methods: Twenty-nine patients were treated with the combined Er: YAG laser and HQ 4% on one side of the face with HQ 4% alone on the other side. Three sessions of the laser rat 4-week intervals. The outcome was calculated using the Melasma Area Severity Index (MASI). Results: The side that received the combined treatment (laser + HQ 4%) showed a statistically significant reduction in MASI compared to the side treated with HQ 4% alone. Conclusion: Our study suggests the superiority of the combination of the Er: YAG laser and HQ 4% in the treatment of melasma compared to HQ 4% alone.
Introduction: Melasma is one of the most common skin pigmentation disorders, which mostly affects the facial skin and has a considerable psychological impact on the patients. Melasma management has been one of the controversial issues in dermatology. We aimed to compare the combined treatment of the Er: YAG (erbium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet) laser plus hydroquinone (HQ) 4% with HQ 4% alone in the treatment of melasma. Methods: Twenty-nine patients were treated with the combined Er: YAG laser and HQ 4% on one side of the face with HQ 4% alone on the other side. Three sessions of the laser rat 4-week intervals. The outcome was calculated using the Melasma Area Severity Index (MASI). Results: The side that received the combined treatment (laser + HQ 4%) showed a statistically significant reduction in MASI compared to the side treated with HQ 4% alone. Conclusion: Our study suggests the superiority of the combination of the Er: YAG laser and HQ 4% in the treatment of melasma compared to HQ 4% alone.
Authors: A de A Tamega; L D B Miot; C Bonfietti; T C Gige; M E A Marques; H A Miot Journal: J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol Date: 2012-01-03 Impact factor: 6.166
Authors: Orlando Oliveira de Morais; Érica Freitas Lima Lemos; Márcia Carolline dos Santos Sousa; Ciro Martins Gomes; Izelda Maria Carvalho Costa; Carmen Déa Ribeiro de Paula Journal: An Bras Dermatol Date: 2013 Mar-Apr Impact factor: 1.896
Authors: G Fabbrocini; V De Vita; N Fardella; F Pastore; M C Annunziata; M C Mauriello; A Monfrecola; N Cameli Journal: Plast Surg Int Date: 2011-04-07