Effectiveness, safety, and effect on quality of life of topical salicylic acid peels for treatment of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation in dark skin.
BACKGROUND
There are no randomized split-face model studies investigating treatments for postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) in dark skin.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy, safety, and effect on quality of life of salicylic acid peels for PIH in dark skin.


METHODS
Ten subjects with Fitzpatrick skin phototypes IV to VI were randomized to receive two 20% salicylic acid peels followed by three 30% salicylic acid peels to half of the face. The contralateral half remained untreated. Response was evaluated by photography reviewed by three blinded dermatologists. The Visual Analog Scale, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), and treatment quality questionnaire were administered.


RESULTS
Improvement of PIH on the treatment side according to each rater (p=.81, p=.81, p=.42) and according to the raters combined (p=.11) approached but did not reach statistical significance. Subjects' Visual Analog Scale scores indicated significantly greater improvement of PIH on the treatment side than in the control (p=.004). Quality of life measured according to the DLQI improved after treatment but not statistically significantly so (p=.13). Treatment had no significant adverse effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Salicylic acid peels are safe in this population. Although patients rated them as clinically effective, blinded raters found a brief series of peels to have less efficacy. Measured quality of life improved nominally.
Joshi
Smita S
SS
Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA.
Boone
Susan L
SL
Alam
Murad
M
Yoo
Simon
S
White
Lucile
L
Rademaker
Alfred
A
Helenowski
Irene
I
West
Dennis P
DP
Kundu
Roopal V
RV
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D002615:Chemexfoliation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017495:Hyperpigmentation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D010781:Photography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D020156:Salicylic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D020156:Salicylic Acid