Efficacy of intense pulsed light combined with hydroquinone cream to treat melisma

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intense pulsed light (IPL) combined with hydroquinone cream for melasma treatment. Methods Thirty-five patients with melasma were treated between February 2015 and February 2017, 20 patients treated with IPL combined with hydroquinone cream and 15 patients with IPL alone. All cases were female patients with Fitzpatrick skin types Ⅲ and Ⅳ, and subjected to 4 weeks treatment 1 time, 5 times for a course of treatment. All patients were followed up for six months and the efficacy and safety of the treatment were analyzed comprehensively by subjective satisfaction and physician evaluation. Results All the patients were treated without discomfort and treated patients were effectively followed up. The satisfactory rate of IPL treatment group was 73.3%, and that of combined with hydroquinone cream group was 100%. Two groups of satisfactory rates were higher in IPL combined with hydroquinone cream. The total effective rate of the IPL treatment group was 53.3% compared with that of the 35 patients before and after treatment; in IPL combined with hydroquinone cream treatment group the total effective rate was 85.0%. IPL combined with hydroquinone cream treatment group was significantly more effective than the treatment group (P<0.05). All treatment patients did not present with tissue damage, pigmentation and other adverse reactions. Conclusions IPL combined with hydroquinone cream is a safe and effective treatment of melasma, and patients get a higher rate of satisfaction. Key words: Melasma; Intense pulsed light therapy; Women; Hydroquinone cream