title: Combination treatment of low-fluence 1,064-nm Q-switched Nd: YAG laser with novel intense pulse light in Korean melasma patients: a prospective, randomized, controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recently, intense pulsed light (IPL) and low-fluence Q-switched neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum (LF-QS-Nd:YAG) laser have been successfully used to treat melasma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of combined novel fractionated IPL (IPL-F) with LF-QS-Nd:YAG laser in patients with melasma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve patients underwent 6 treatment sessions of concomitant IPL-F and LF-QS-Nd:YAG laser (combination group), and 12 patients underwent 6 treatment session of IPL-F alone (IPL only group). Partial melasma area and severity index (MASI) scores were evaluated by 2 dermatologists using digital photography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the combination group, the partial MASI score has significantly decreased by 47% at 1 month after the treatment (p < .05) and 50% at 2 months after the last treatment (p < .01). At 1 month and 2 months after the treatment, the decrease in the partial MASI score of the combination group was significantly larger than that of the IPL only group (p < .05). In both groups, treatment with IPL-F and LF-QS-Nd:YAG laser was well tolerated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that the combination of the IPL-F with LF-QS-Nd:YAG laser may be an effective and safe modality for melasma patients.
authors.affiliation: *All the authors are affiliated with the Department of Dermatology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Woo Jin
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Hye-Rim
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Mi-Woo
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jee-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Sung-Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D004890:Erythema / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D062325:Intense Pulsed Light Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008543:Melanins / Q000032:analysis; D008548:Melanosis / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010781:Photography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry; D013053:Spectrophotometry
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins