Sequential treatment with triple combination cream and intense pulsed light is more efficacious than sequential treatment with an inactive (control) cream and intense pulsed light in patients with moderate to severe melasma.
BACKGROUND
Triple combination (TC) cream is a stable combination of fluocinolone acetonide 0.01%, hydroquinone 4%, and tretinoin 0.05% and is currently the only hydroquinone-containing drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of melasma.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of TC cream when used sequentially with intense pulsed light (IPL) treatments in patients with moderate to severe melasma.


METHODS
This was a 10-week, split-face study in which 56 patients with symmetrical melasma lesions were treated with TC cream on one side of the face and an inactive control cream on the other side of the face. Patients also had two IPL treatments at weeks 2 and 6. (Topical treatment was suspended during IPL treatments ± 1 day.)


RESULTS
Melasma severity was significantly less with TC cream and IPL than with inactive cream and IPL at weeks 6 (p=.007) and 10 (p=.002). Improvement in melasma was greater with TC cream and IPL than with inactive cream and IPL according to investigator and patient evaluations at weeks 6 and 10 (p<.001 for both time points). Treatment with TC cream and IPL was well tolerated.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that TC cream and IPL treatment is an effective and safe treatment option for patients with melasma.
Department of Dermatology, University of California at San Diego, San Diego, California, USA.
Mitchel P
MP
Goldman
Michael H
MH
Gold
Melanie D
MD
Palm
Luz E
LE
Colón
Norman
N
Preston
Lori A
LA
Johnson
Ronald W
RW
Gottschalk
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005446:Fluocinolone Acetonide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D006873:Hydroquinones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D008297:Male; D008548:Melanosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D006873:Hydroquinones; D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D005446:Fluocinolone Acetonide; D014212:Tretinoin; C031927:hydroquinone