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The efficacy in treatment of facial melasma with thulium 1927-nm fractional laser-assisted topical tranexamic acid delivery: a split-face, double-blind, randomized controlled pilot study

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Abstract

This split-face, double-blind, randomized controlled study examines the efficacy of fractional thulium laser (FTL)–assisted delivery of topical tranexamic acid (TXA) compared with FTL alone as a treatment option for melasma. Forty-six adults with Fitzpatrick skin types III–V and recalcitrant melasma underwent four weekly treatments with fractional 1927-nm thulium laser on both sides of the face. Immediately after treatment, TXA was applied to one side of the face and normal saline solution (NSS) to the contralateral side as control under occlusion. Melanin index (MI), modified MASI (mMASI), and patients’ self-assessed improvement scores were measured at baseline, 1 week, 4 weeks, and 3- and 6 months after the final treatment and were examined statistically with a paired sample t test with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. The majority of the participants (95.7%, n = 44) were female with Fitzpatrick skin type IV (82.6%) and a mean age of 48.0 ± 10.0 years. Twenty-nine individuals were able to be followed up until the 6-month assessment. Significant improvement from baseline was seen in both the MI and mMASI scores for both the TXA and control sides at 3 months, with no statistically significant difference between sides. By the 6th month, significant differences in MI and mMASI scores from baseline were still noted, except in the MI for controls. The patients’ self-assessment showed similar patterns. No serious adverse events were reported for either group. A regimen of FTL-assisted delivery of TXA over a 4-week period is a safe and effective treatment option for melasma, producing significant improvement up to 3 months. Results further would suggest a repeat regimen every 3 months could be useful for treatment of recalcitrant melasma.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Ms. Phassara Klamsawat, Ms. Phonsuk Yamlexnoi, and Mr. Panyawat Wongjaruwat for their assistance in recruiting subjects and managing the database. The authors acknowledge Lutronic Corporation, Goyang, South Korea, for loaning the laser system without charge and for providing the tranexamic acid ampoules used in the study.

Availability of data and material

All data and materials in this study support their published claims.

Funding

This research project is supported by Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, 2 Pran-nok Road, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand

    Rungsima Wanitphakdeedecha, Poramin Patthamalai, Thanya Techapichetvanich, Sasima Eimpunth & Woraphong Manuskiatti

  2. Section of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines

    Francesca Sy-Alvarado

Authors
  1. Rungsima Wanitphakdeedecha
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  2. Francesca Sy-Alvarado
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  3. Poramin Patthamalai
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  4. Thanya Techapichetvanich
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  5. Sasima Eimpunth
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  6. Woraphong Manuskiatti
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Contributions

RW and FS drafted and revised the manuscript; RW and PP wrote the protocol of the study and performed the procedures; TT, SE, and WM reviewed and corrected the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rungsima Wanitphakdeedecha.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Siriraj Institutional Review Board (SIRB) and in accordance with the ethical standards stated in the Belmont Report. All authors have reviewed and approved this version of the manuscript. All authors give their consent for this submission. All authors give their consent for publication.

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Wanitphakdeedecha, R., Sy-Alvarado, F., Patthamalai, P. et al. The efficacy in treatment of facial melasma with thulium 1927-nm fractional laser-assisted topical tranexamic acid delivery: a split-face, double-blind, randomized controlled pilot study. Lasers Med Sci 35, 2015–2021 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-020-03045-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-020-03045-8

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