Treatment of Melasma in Asian Skin Using a Fractional 1,550-nm Laser

Abstract

Treatment of melasma with FP led to some clinical improvements, but it was not as efficacious as previously reported at 6-month follow-up. We recommend judicious use of FP for the treatment of melasma in Asian skin because of its limited efficacy.

Fractional Rejuvenation Using a Novel Bipolar Radiofrequency System in Asian Skin

“…Photographic documentation using identical camera settings, distance, angle, background, lighting, and 4 2009 Fraxel SR750 Melasma III-IV 13 Hu et al 12 2009 Fraxel SR750/SR1500 Acne scar III-IV 13 Rokhsar et al 13 2005 Fraxel SR750 Melasma III-V 10 Stotland et al 14 2008 Fraxel SR750 Striae distensae I-IV 7.1 Kono et al 15 2007 Fraxel SR750 Photoaging III-IV 6.7 Park et al 16 2011 Fraxel SR750/SR1500 Atrophic scars III-IV 5.1 Alster et al 17 2007 Fraxel SR750 Atrophic scars I-V 1.9 Graber et al 18 2008 Patients were asked to document their judgment of overall improvement and subjective satisfaction scores at visits 3 and 4. Subjective improvement scale was evaluated using a 5-point scale (0 = none, 1 = slight improvement, 2 = moderate improvement, 3 = good improvement, 4 = excellent improvement).…”

Therapeutic Efficacy and Safety of Invasive Pulsed-Type Bipolar Alternating Current Radiofrequency on Melasma and Rebound Hyperpigmentation

“…3 Recently, a 1064-nm Q-switched neodymium-yttriumaluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser with low energy was introduced for the treatment of melasma in Asian patients, with favorable results. [4][5][6] Patients experienced minimal downtime without crust formation and significant erythema after laser treatment. Notwithstanding, the possibility of rebound hyperpigmentation (RH) and punctate leukoderma have since been found to be the major concerns for this treatment.…”

Treatment of Pigmented Lesions in the Asian Skin

“…Lee et al 59 treated 25 patients with melasma using the 1550 nm erbium-doped fractional photothermolysis laser at a fluence of 15 mJ/MTZ and a density of 125 MTZ/pass with eight passes. Four treatment sessions were performed at monthly intervals.…”

“…Fractional photothermolysis has recently been evaluated in the treatment of melasma, with encouraging results. [56][57][58][59] Rokhsar et al 57 treated 10 women with melasma using the Fraxel laser TM (Reliant Technologies) with the following parameters: 1550 nm wavelength, fluence of 6-12 mJ per microthermal zone (MTZ) for a total of 2000-3500 MTZ/cm 2 . Four to six treatment sessions were performed at 1-2 week intervals.…”