Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of broadband light (BBL) combined with intradermal injection of tranexamic acid for treating melasma.
Methods: 120 women with melasma admitted to our hospital from January 2021 to April 2022 were randomly categorized into the following groups: control group, treated with 250 mg tranexamic acid given orally twice daily, except during menstruation; group I, treated with BBL (Sciton, Inc., USA) monthly; group II, received intradermal injections of tranexamic acid monthly; and group III, treated with BBL with intradermal injection of tranexamic acid monthly. Treatment in each group lasted three months. The MASI (Melasma Area Severity Index) and VISIA (Canfield VISIA Complexion Analysis) were used for evaluation.
Results: After treatment course, MASI scores and VISIA brown spot and red zone ranking improved in all four groups (p < 0.05). The decrease in MASI scores and improvement rates of VISIA brown spot and red zone rankings were not significantly different among the control group, group I, and group II; however, the decreased MASI scores and improvement rates of VISIA brown spot and red zone rankings were significantly higher in group III than in the other three groups (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The effect of BBL combined with the intradermal injection of TA in the treatment of melasma is remarkable. This combination therapy can be an alternative and effective treatment for managing melasma.
Keywords: BBL; combined treatment; intradermal injection; melasma; tranexamic acid.
© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.