Efficacy of 694-nm Q-switched ruby fractional laser treatment of melasma in female Korean patients.

摘要

BACKGROUND: Melasma is a common acquired symmetrical hypermelanosis of sun-exposed areas of the skin. Although the classical Q-switched ruby laser (QSRL) has been used successfully for the removal of tattoos and for the treatment of cutaneous pigmented lesions, its efficacy for melasma remains controversial. OBJECTIVE: We used repeat low-dose fractional QSRL treatment for melasma and analyzed the clinical results. METHODS: Fifteen Korean women with melasma were enrolled. Each patient received six low-dose fractional QSRL treatments to the face at 2-week intervals. Two investigators independently evaluated Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) scores before each session and 4 and 16 weeks after the final session. The intensities of pigmentation and erythema were assessed by measuring skin reflectance using a tristimulus color analyzer. RESULTS: Mean MASI score decreased from 15.1 +/- 3.3 before treatment to 10.6 +/- 3.9 16 weeks after the final treatment. The lightness of pigmentation (L-value) increased from 56.6 +/- 3.5 before treatment to 59.9 +/- 2.8 16 weeks after the final treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple treatment sessions of low-dose fractional QSRL may be an effective strategy for the treatment of dermal or mixed-type melasma.