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Gan C, Rodrigues M. An Update on New and Existing Treatments for the Management of Melasma. Am J Clin Dermatol 2024; 25:717-733. [PMID: 38896402 PMCID: PMC11358250 DOI: 10.1007/s40257-024-00863-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Melasma is a chronic, acquired disorder of focal hypermelanosis that carries significant psychosocial impact and is challenging for both the patient and the treating practitioner to manage in the medium to long term. Multiple treatments have been explored, often in combination given the many aetiological factors involved in its pathogenesis. Therapeutic discoveries to treat melasma are a focal topic in the literature and include a range of modalities, with recent developments including updates on visible light photoprotection, non-hydroquinone depigmenting agents, oral tranexamic acid, chemical peels, and laser and energy-based device therapy for melasma. It is increasingly important yet challenging to remain up-to-date on the arsenal of treatments available for melasma to find an efficacious and well-tolerated option for our patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Gan
- Department of Dermatology, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Michelle Rodrigues
- Department of Dermatology, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
- Chroma Dermatology, Pigment and Skin of Colour Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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Atefi N, Ziaeifar E, Seirafianpour F, Sadeghzadeh-Bazargan A, Amin NG, Mozafarpoor S, Abouie A, Jafari MA, Goodarzi A. Evaluation of efficacy and safety of vitiligo treatment with micro-needling combined with N-Acetylcysteine and micro-needling alone: A double-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial. J Cosmet Dermatol 2024; 23:2220-2230. [PMID: 38470079 DOI: 10.1111/jocd.16274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Vitiligo is a skin pigmentation disorder caused by the selective degradation of melanocytes. This study investigates the therapeutic effects of microneedling with and without N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in patients with persistent and limited vitiligo. METHOD This research employed a clinical trial design with double-blind randomization. Individuals affected by vitiligo and seeking treatment at Rasool Akram Medical Complex were divided into two separate treatment groups. In the intervention group, 24 affected areas underwent meso-microneedling using 5% NAC ampoules over six sessions, in addition to the application of 4.7% NAC cream once daily on the specified area. Conversely, the control group, consisting of 22 lesions, underwent microneedling using distilled water during six sessions. The severity of lesions and the extent of repigmentation were gauged using the Modified VETI Score. Assessment of treatment efficacy was determined through both physician evaluations and patient feedback. RESULTS Twenty patients with a mean age of 36.4 years were recruited. The mean percentage of lesions and their intensity were significantly improved 2 weeks after the third session and 1 month after the end of the treatment (p < 0.01). There was no statistically significant difference between the intervention and control groups. Gender, age, family history, duration of disease, duration of disease stability, and history of hypothyroidism had no statistically significant relationship with patients' treatment outcomes (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION Microneedling with or without the application of NAC appears to be an effective treatment option for persistent vitiligo lesions. However, despite the higher improvement rate with the application of NAC, the difference was not significant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Najmolsadat Atefi
- Department of Dermatology, Rasool Akram Medical Complex Clinical Research Development Center (RCRDC), School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elham Ziaeifar
- Department of Dermatology, Rasool Akram Medical Complex Clinical Research Development Center (RCRDC), School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Afsaneh Sadeghzadeh-Bazargan
- Department of Dermatology, Rasool Akram Medical Complex Clinical Research Development Center (RCRDC), School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nazila Ghoreishi Amin
- Department of Radiology, University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Samaneh Mozafarpoor
- Department of Dermatology, Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Abolfazl Abouie
- Department of Radiology, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Amin Jafari
- Department of Dermatology, Rasool Akram Medical Complex Clinical Research Development Center (RCRDC), School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Azadeh Goodarzi
- Department of Dermatology, Rasool Akram Medical Complex Clinical Research Development Center (RCRDC), School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Liang R, Luo H, Pan W, Yang S, Peng X, Kuang B, Huang H, Liu C. Comparative efficacy and safety of tranexamic acid for melasma by different administration methods: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. J Cosmet Dermatol 2024; 23:1150-1164. [PMID: 38059683 DOI: 10.1111/jocd.16104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tranexamic acid (TA) is a new and promising drug for the treatment of melasma. OBJECTIVES This network meta-analysis aims to compare the efficacy and safety of various ways of administration of TA on melasma. METHODS We collected researches from PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science. Melasma area severity index (MASI) is used to evaluate the severity of melasma. After treatment with different TA administration methods, a difference in MASI is named ΔMASI. We evaluate the curative effect by comparing the ΔMASI of different TA administration methods at a certain time point. RESULTS At the Weeks 4, 8, and 12 and the last follow-up, the ΔMASI of oral TA combined with routine topical agents (oTA + RTA) was higher than that of intradermal TA (iTA), topical TA (tTA) as well as microneedling TA (MNsTA), with statistical significance. At the 8th week, the ΔMASI of oTA was higher than that of iTA, with statistical significance. Compared with placebo, oTA showed statistically significant differences at Week 4, while tTA, iTA, and MNsTA showed statistically significant differences starting from Week 8. CONCLUSIONS Among various ways of administration of TA, oTA + RTA has the best effect on melasma. In the short term, the curative effect of oTA is better than that of iTA, and the onset time of oTA is faster than that of tTA, iTA and MNsTA. In the long run, the curative effect of TA alone has nothing to do with the mode of administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongzhou Liang
- Department of Laser Cosmetology, The Sixth People's Hospital of Dongguan, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
| | - Haiyan Luo
- Department of Laser Cosmetology, The Sixth People's Hospital of Dongguan, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
| | - Wanwan Pan
- Department of Dermatology, The Sixth People's Hospital of Dongguan City, Dongguan, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Sifen Yang
- Department of Plastic and Cosmetology, The Sixth People's Hospital of Dongguan City, Dongguan, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xiaoyun Peng
- Department of Plastic and Cosmetology, The Sixth People's Hospital of Dongguan City, Dongguan, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Baizeng Kuang
- Department of Plastic and Cosmetology, The Sixth People's Hospital of Dongguan City, Dongguan, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Hongyin Huang
- Department of Plastic and Cosmetology, The Sixth People's Hospital of Dongguan City, Dongguan, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Chengjiang Liu
- Department of General Medicine, Affiliated Anqing First People's Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
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Feng X, Su H, Xie J. The efficacy and safety of microneedling with topical tranexamic acid for melasma treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Cosmet Dermatol 2024; 23:33-43. [PMID: 37584240 DOI: 10.1111/jocd.15965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Microneedling with topical tranexamic acid (TXA) is a novel treatment option for melasma; however, the efficacy and safety of this combined administration therapy is in controversial. This study is conducted to address this issue of this technique in melasma. METHODS An extensive literature review was performed to identify relevant trials, including randomized split-face studies, randomized controlled trials and prospective non-randomized split-face studies, comparing microneedling plus topical TXA to routine treatments or placebo. The primary outcomes were changes of the Melasma Area Severity Index (MASI)/modified MASI (mMASI)/hemi MASI between before and after treatment, as well as the changes between a particular treatment and microneedling plus TXA. The mean differences (MDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for the reduction of melasma severity scores from baseline to each time point. In contrast, the standard mean differences (SMDs) and 95% CIs were calculated for the differences in reduction in melasma severity scores between the experimental and control groups at each time point. RESULTS A total of 16 trials were included in the systematic review and data synthesis. The pooled analysis demonstrated that MASI, mMASI, and hemiMASI scores decreased significantly at 4 weeks (MD = 1.85; 95% CI = 1.15-2.54), 8 weeks (MD = 3.28; 95% CI = 2.31-4.24), 12 weeks (MD = 4.73; 95% CI = 2.79-6.50), 16 weeks (MD = 3.18; 95% CI = 1.50-4.85), and 20 weeks (MD = 3.20; 95% CI = 1.95-4.46) after treatment when compared with baseline. The reduction in melasma severity scores of microneedling with TXA group at 4 weeks was more significant than the routine treatment group (SMD = 0.97; 95% CI = 0.09-1.86), while insignificant at 8 weeks (SMD = 1.21; 95% CI = -0.17 to 2.59), 12 weeks (SMD = 0.63; 95% CI = -0.03 to 1.29), 16 weeks (SMD = 0.61; 95% CI = -2.85 to 4.07), or 20 weeks (SMD = 1.04; 95% CI = -1.28 to 3.36). CONCLUSION Despite the high heterogeneity across these studies, the current findings indicated that microneedling with topical TXA is an alternative treatment option for melasma treatment; and more well-designed studies are needed to confirm it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowei Feng
- Department of Dermatovenerology, Chengdu First People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Hong Su
- Department of Dermatovenerology, Chengdu First People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Jinwei Xie
- Department of Orthopedics surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Ma W, Gao Q, Liu J, Zhong X, Xu T, Wu Q, Cheng Z, Luo N, Hao P. Efficacy and safety of laser-related therapy for melasma: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. J Cosmet Dermatol 2023; 22:2910-2924. [PMID: 37737021 DOI: 10.1111/jocd.16006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Melasma is a prevalent, persistent hyperpigmentation disorder that negatively affects the psychological health of patients. However, the treatment outcome remains unsatisfactory due to the complexity of pathogenesis, recurrence characteristics, and relatively high morbidity. OBJECTIVES To compare the performance of laser-related therapies in improving the melasma area severity index (MASI) score of melasma and the occurrence of adverse effects by network meta-analysis (NMA). METHODS From the inception to November 2022, eligible randomized controlled trials were identified. Two investigators independently searched relevant studies from PUBMED, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library database. RESULTS A total of 39 clinical studies with 1394 participants were eligible for enrollment. For efficacy, the NMA demonstrated that Q-switched Nd: YAG laser + topical medications (QSND+TM) was superior to Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (QSND) [MD = -4.21 (-6.80, -1.63)], Er: YAG laser + topical medications (ERYL+TM) [MD = -3.52 (-6.84, -0.19)], and picosecond laser + topical medications (PICO+TM) [MD = -4.80 (-9.33, -0.27)]. The microneedling + topical medications (MN+TM) was superior to picosecond laser (PICO) [MD = -5.26 (-10.44, -0.08)] and topical medications (TM) [MD = -5.22 (-9.20, -1.23)]. The top five of the surface under the cumulative ranking curve value (SUCRA) are Q-switched Nd:YAG laser + topical medications (QSND+TM 85.9%), oral tranexamic acid (oTA 80.1%), microneedling + topical medications (MN+TM 79.7%), Q-switched Nd:YAG laser + intense pulse light (QSND+IPL 78.9%), and fractional carbon dioxide laser + topical medications (FCDL+TM 70.5%). CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, the Qs-Nd:YAG laser with topical medications is the first choice for treating melasma according to the SUCRA value. Among the three treatment modalities, namely MN + TM, PICO, and TM, our recommendation favors MN+TM as the superior choice for enhancing the curative efficacy in melasma. However, the actual clinical choice should also take into account the adverse effects, the skin type of the patient, the duration of the disease, and other relevant factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyi Ma
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Qian Gao
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Jinghua Liu
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaojing Zhong
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Tongtong Xu
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Qinyao Wu
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Zilin Cheng
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Nana Luo
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Pingsheng Hao
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
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Khan QA, Abdi P, Farkouh C, Anthony MR, Chundru A, Amatul F, Parimi K, Santiago N, Farkouh M, Iram S, Khan A. Effectiveness of laser and topical tranexamic acid combination therapy in melasma: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Lasers Med Sci 2023; 38:139. [PMID: 37326860 DOI: 10.1007/s10103-023-03810-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Melasma is a chronic relapsing skin condition. Laser therapy is a new advancement in treatment. Whether the topical application of tranexamic acid (TXA) increases the efficacy of laser therapy in melasma is still under debate. With recent studies yielding different results, it was imperative to compile all the available literature systematically. This meta-analysis investigates the effectiveness of a combination therapy of laser plus TXA acid for treating melasma. PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Central, Google Scholar, Scopus, and the International Clinical Trials registry were systematically searched for article retrieval. Screening per PRISMA guidelines was undertaken by two independent reviewers using the Covidance database. Melasma area of severity index (MASI)/modified MASI was used as the clinical improvement outcomes. A total of nine studies that described the combined use of topical tranexamic acid with laser therapy were included for meta-analysis. These studies employed various types of lasers along with topical TXA. The results showed that the combination of both laser therapy and topical TXA significantly decreased the MASI score (P < 0.0001). Subgroup analyses revealed that fractional CO2 laser among the laser types and monthly laser plus twice daily topical TXA were most effective in decreasing the MASI/mMASI score. The meta-analysis found that combining topical tranexamic acid and laser therapy is an effective and safer treatment option for treatment-resistant melasma. Furthermore, monthly fractional CO2 laser and daily application of topical tranexamic acid showed high effectiveness and safety.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Parsa Abdi
- Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
| | | | | | - Akshai Chundru
- Ross University School of Medicine, Bridgetown, Barbados
| | - Faiza Amatul
- Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, GA, USA
| | - Kavya Parimi
- Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Bangalore, India
| | | | | | | | - Arooba Khan
- Khyber Teaching Hospital MTI KTH, Peshawar, Pakistan
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Konisky H, Balazic E, Jaller JA, Khanna U, Kobets K. Tranexamic acid in melasma: A focused review on drug administration routes. J Cosmet Dermatol 2023; 22:1197-1206. [PMID: 36606378 DOI: 10.1111/jocd.15589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Melasma is a disorder of hyperpigmentation and vascularization often found in women between the ages of 20 and 40. The pathogenesis is unknown, but melasma often occurs in sun-exposed areas of the face, forearms, and back. Risk factors include family history, increased estrogen/progesterone, certain medications, and UV exposure. Melasma is typically treated with topical hydroquinone (HQ); however, it is often refractory to treatment. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is a plasmin inhibitor used off-label in the treatment of melasma. TXA can be administered orally, topically, or intralesionally. AIMS The purpose of this review is to characterize the wide variety of TXA delivery methods for melasma treatment and the efficacy of these methods compared with traditional treatments. PATIENTS/METHODS A comprehensive PubMed and Embase search was conducted in May 2022 using the phrases tranexamic acid and melasma. Forty-six articles were included in this review. RESULTS Oral, intralesional, and topical TXA is safe and effective treatments for melasma. They have been studied in a variety of randomized controlled trials and have been compared with several traditional treatments. Overall, MASI scores in patients using TXA in any form improved. CONCLUSIONS Oral TXA was found to be the most effective, especially in cases of refractory melasma; however, it caused GI upset and menstrual irregularities in many patients. The pro-thrombotic nature of this drug must be considered before safely prescribing to patients. Intralesional injections and microneedling with topical TXA were found to be effective alternatives to oral treatment. Lastly, topical TXA alone was found to be the least effective method but can be combined with other cosmeceuticals to improve outcomes. Topical TXA was also found to be better tolerated than hydroquinone, a traditional topical melasma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailey Konisky
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Eliza Balazic
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Jose A Jaller
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Urmi Khanna
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Kseniya Kobets
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
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The Low-Fluence Q-Switched Nd:YAG Laser Treatment for Melasma: A Systematic Review. Medicina (B Aires) 2022; 58:medicina58070936. [PMID: 35888655 PMCID: PMC9323185 DOI: 10.3390/medicina58070936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Melasma is a common pigmentary disorder with a complex pathogenesis, of which the treatment is challenging. Conventional treatment often leads to inconsistent results with unexpected pigmentary side effects and high recurrence rates. Recently, the low-fluence Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (LFQSNY) has been widely used for treating melasma, especially in Asia. We reviewed literatures on the LFQSNY treatment of melasma published between 2009 and May 2022 to evaluate the efficacy and adverse events, including its combination therapy. A systematic PubMed search was conducted and a total of 42 articles were included in this study. It was hard to summarize the heterogenous studies, but LFQSNY appeared to be a generally effective and safe treatment for melasma considering the results of previous conventional therapies. However, mottled hypopigmentation has been occasionally reported to develop and persist as an adverse event of LFQSNY, which may be associated with the high accumulated laser energy. When used aggressively, even LFQSNY can induce hyperpigmentation via unwanted inflammation, especially in darker skin. Although few studies have reported considerable recurrence rates three months after treatment, unfortunately, there is a lack of the long-term follow-up results of LFQSNY in melasma. To enhance the effectiveness and reduce the adverse events, LFQSNY has been used in combination with other treatment modalities in melasma, including topical bleaching agents, oral tranexamic acid, chemical peeling, or diverse energy-based devices, which generally reduced side effects with or without significant superior efficacy compared to LFQSNY alone.
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