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. RESULTS: 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.