Photorejuvenation by intense pulsed light with objective measurement of skin color in Japanese patients.
OBJECTIVE
This study had two objectives: subjective evaluation of overall skin rejuvenation effects of relatively short-wavelength intense pulsed light (IPL) and objective changes in basic skin tone as measured by a spectrophotometer.


METHODS
Twenty-five women selected at random received a series of three IPL treatments. Efficacy was evaluated over a 3-month follow-up period. Concurrently, a spectrophotometer was used to measure "lightness" (L(*)) to quantify the lightening effect changes to pretreatment and posttreatment basic skin tone.


RESULTS
Subjective improvement of 50% or more was seen in 18 of 25 patients for pigmentation. One patient showed exacerbation of latent epidermal melasma as a complication. In the spectrophotometric analysis, the mean value of L(*) increased from a baseline value of 60.86 to 63.22, at 3-month follow-up period, with statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
IPL skin rejuvenation using relatively shorter wavelengths and pulse widths brought about significant macroscopic and quantitative improvements, especially in the treatment of epidermal pigmentation and improvement of basic skin tone.
Negishi
Kei
K
Tokyo Women's Medical University Aoyama Institute of Women's and Natural Medicine, Kita-aoyama, Tokyo, Japan. keinegishi@aol.com
Kushikata
Nobuharu
N
Takeuchi
Kaori
K
Tezuka
Yukiko
Y
Wakamatsu
Shingo
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017495:Hyperpigmentation / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000528:radiation effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome