Combination treatment algorithm for pigmentary disorders of the face: A prospective observational study in Asian patients

Abstract

Most patients with facial pigmentary disorders have multiple disorders. However, there is no definitive treatment algorithm improving various pigmentary disorders simultaneously. To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of the combination of the Q-switched alexandrite and the carbon dioxide lasers with ZO SKIN HEALTHⓇ for facial pigmentary disorders. This prospective observational study enrolled 251 patients with at least one facial pigmentary disorder. We assessed treatment efficacy and investigated which disorders were most responsive to combination treatment and the relationship between doctors' skills, outcomes, and dropout rates. There were 246 patients with lentigo senilis, 186 with moles, 79 with melasma, 53 with seborrheic keratosis, 17 with acquired dermal melanocytosis (ADM), and 16 with freckles. Overall, 227 patients completed treatment. Post-treatment outcomes were excellent in 97, good in 113, fair in 17, and poor in 0 patients. Freckles were the most responsive, and ADM was the least responsive. Patient withdrawal and treatment outcomes did not differ significantly based on the doctors' skills. Overall, 3.2% of patients had adverse events. Our combination algorithm improved several pigmentary disorders of the face simultaneously, regardless of the doctors' proficiency level.