title: [Clinical research of chloasma treated with the meridian cosmetology and the impacts on estrogen and progestin].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the efficacy difference between meridian cosmetology and western medicine in the treatment of chloasma and explore the impacts of meridian cosmetology on E2 and PRGE.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundreds cases of chloasma were randomized into a meridian cosmetology group and a western medication group according to the visit sequence, 150 cases in each one. In the meridian cosmetology group, the meridian regulation, acupuncture based on pattern/syndrome differentiation [at the body acupoints such as Qihai (CV 6), Xuehai (SP 10), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Ganshu (BL 18), Pishu (BL 20) and Shenshu (BL 23), etc.] and the local surrounding needling therapy on the chloasma skin lesion were adopted. In the western medication group, the oral administration of Vitamin C and E was prescribed for 3 months. The clinical efficacy was observed for the patients in the two groups. Additionally, 30 cases were collected from the meridian cosmetology group randomly for the detection of estrogen (E2) and progestin (PRGE) before and after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The effective rate in the meridian cosmetology group was 92.6% (126/136), which was superior to 67.0% (75/112) in the western medication group (P < 0.05). For the patients collected from the meridian cosmetology group, as compared with that before treatment, E2 level was decreased (P < 0.01) and PRGE level was increased (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The meridian cosmetology achieves the superior efficacy as compared with the western medication group for the chloasma and it can regulate the levels of E2 and PRGE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Affiliated Hospital of Gansu College of TCM, Lanzhou 731000, China.
authors.forename: Zhong-Nan
authors.initials: ZN
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Shi-Biao
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ya-Lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Hai-Yan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Li-Ya
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Xiao-Ling
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Tian-You
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D003357:Cosmetic Techniques; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008548:Melanosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D016740:Meridians; D011372:Progestins / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D011372:Progestins