title: Randomized clinical trial of facial acupuncture with or without body acupuncture for treatment of melasma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture treatments in treating facial melasma, contrasting treatments involving facial acupuncture with facial/body acupuncture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women suffering with melasma were randomly assigned into: 1) facial acupuncture (n = 20); or 2) facial/body acupuncture (n = 21). Each group was given 2 sessions per week for 8 weeks. Melasma area and darkness of its pigmentation were assessed using digital images.
  
  
  RESULTS
  95.2% and 90% of participants in facial/body and facial acupuncture, respectively, had decreased melasma areas, with a mean reduction area being 2.6 cm(2) (95%CI 1.6-3.6 cm(2)) and 2.4 cm(2) (95%CI 1.6-3.3 cm(2)), respectively. 66.7% (facial/body acupuncture) and 80.0% (facial acupuncture) of participants had lighter melasma pigmentation compared to their baselines (p-value = 0.482).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Facial acupuncture, with or without body acupuncture, was shown to be effective in decreasing the size of melasma areas. This study is registered with the Thai Clinical Trial Registry (TCTR20140903004).
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand. Electronic address: lakkana_r@hotmail.com.
authors: Lakkana
authors: L
authors: Rerksuppaphol
authors: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand.
authors: Theekapun
authors: T
authors: Charoenpong
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand.
authors: Sanguansak
authors: S
authors: Rerksuppaphol
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D005145:Face / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008548:Melanosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: Acupuncture therapy; Melasma; Randomized clinical trial