title: A prospective, split-face, randomized study of the efficacy and safety of a novel fractionated intense pulsed light treatment for melasma in Asians.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intense pulsed light (IPL) has been reported to effectively treat melasma in previous studies, but an aggravation of pigmentation was noted. Fractionated IPL is a novel technique in which microsecond-domain fractionated pulses are delivered to the target area.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the safety and efficacy of low-fluency, frequently scheduled fractionated IPL and conventional IPL for melasma treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a 14-week, split-face study in which 30 Asian women were treated with weekly fractionated IPL on one side of the face and biweekly conventional IPL on the other side.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The non-inferiority of a weekly fractionated IPL regimen to a biweekly conventional IPL regimen was verified by a lower margin of the 95% confidence interval for the difference in the Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) change from baseline of 2.61 for each side. This value was greater than the previously determined non-inferiority margin of -2.68 (P < 0.025). On the fractionated IPL side, the modified MASI score decreased continuously, but in the conventional IPL group, the MASI score rebounded during the treatment course.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fractionated IPL shows moderate efficacy as a melasma treatment and is therefore a good alternative to conventional IPL as there is no indication of melasma exacerbation. Fractionated IPL can also be used as a maintenance treatment for melasma.
authors: a Department of Dermatology , Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea.
authors: Woo Jin
authors: WJ
authors: Yun
authors: Sang Min
authors: SM
authors: Lee
authors: Ji Su
authors: JS
authors: Han
authors: Sang Hyung
authors: SH
authors: Lee
authors: Seo Youn
authors: SY
authors: Chang
authors: Sik
authors: S
authors: Haw
authors: Jung Bok
authors: JB
authors: Lee
authors: Chong Hyun
authors: CH
authors: Won
authors: Mi Woo
authors: MW
authors: Lee
authors: Jee Ho
authors: JH
authors: Choi
authors: Sung Eun
authors: SE
authors: Chang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D003357:Cosmetic Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D062325:Intense Pulsed Light Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008548:Melanosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: IPL; fractionated; intense pulsed light; laser; melasma