Intense pulsed light and laser for the treatment of chloasma: an update

Abstract

Chloasma is an acquired pigmentary disorder mainly affecting the face.The etiology and pathogenesis of chloasma have not yet been fully understood.It is difficult to treat and relapse is common.The purpose of treatment is to reduce hyperpigmentation and decrease lesion size.For chloasma resistant to traditional topical drugs and with a high recurrence rate,laser can be attempted.Q-switched Nd:YAG laser is somewhat effective for both epidermal and dermal types of chloasma,and intense pulsed light can be used to treat epidermal type of chloasma.A variety of new models of fractional lasers have increased evidence for the use of laser in chloasma treatment.Patients should be informed about the limitations of and adverse reactions to lasers before treatment,the energy of laser should be low enough to reduce skin irritation,and sun exposure should be avoided strictly after treatment. Key words: Chloasma; Lasers; Intense pulsed light therapy