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Safety and efficacy of glycolic acid facial peel in Indian women with melasma
Author(s) -
Javaheri Saeid Mirzazadeh,
Handa Sanjeev,
Kaur Inderjeet,
Kumar Bhushan
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
international journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-4632
pISSN - 0011-9059
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-4362.2001.01149.x
Subject(s) - melasma , medicine , glycolic acid , dermatology , hyperpigmentation , lotion , skin type , traditional medicine , lactic acid , biology , bacteria , genetics
Background Melasma is a common disorder of facial hyperpigmentation. Many modalities of treatment are available, but none is satisfactory. Materials and methods Twenty‐five nonpregnant female patients with a minimum melasma area and severity index (MASI) of 15 were recruited in the study. After a detailed history and clinical examination under natural light and Wood's light, MASI was calculated and color photographs were taken of all patients. Patients were advised to carry out a prepeel program of daily application of topical sunscreens (sun protection factor‐15, SPF‐15) and 10% glycolic acid lotion at night for 2 weeks. Patients were then treated with 50% glycolic acid facial peel once per month for three consecutive months. At regular intervals and at the end of the follow‐up period (3 months) after the last peel, the degree of improvement in pigmentation was assessed by remeasuring MASI. Side‐effects, if any, were also recorded. The data obtained were statistically analyzed using Student's paired t ‐test and Spearman rank correlation coefficient test. Results Improvement in melasma (reduction in MASI) was observed in 91% of patients ( P < 0.01). Patients with epidermal‐type melasma demonstrated a better response to treatment than those with mixed‐type melasma ( P < 0.05). Conclusions The prepeel program followed by 50% glycolic acid facial peel once per month for three consecutive months proved to be an effective treatment modality in Indian patients without any significant side‐effects.