ReviewInternational journal of women's dermatology2017
A review of laser and light therapy in melasma.
Review in International journal of women's dermatology, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 41 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
41 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 181 citations in OpenAlex.
- Effectiveness of laser and topical tranexamic acid combination therapy in melasma: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Lasers in medical science · 2023Pooled it
- Efficacy and safety of picosecond laser for the treatment of melasma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Lasers in medical science · 2023Pooled it
- A Meta-analysis-Based Assessment of Intense Pulsed Light for Treatment of Melasma.Aesthetic plastic surgery · 2020Pooled it
- Safety and efficacy of niosomal and conventional tranexamic acid/niacinamide vs. hydroquinone creams in melasma: A randomized, double-blind, case-controlled clinical trial.Scientific reports · 2025Trial
- A pilot randomized split-face trial comparing fractional Q-Switched ruby laser and 1064-nm Q-Switched nd: YAG laser in Chinese women with melasma running titile: fQSRL vs. QSNY in melasma.Lasers in medical science · 2025Trial
- Efficacy of Non-Ablative Fractional Laser Combined With Tranexamic Acid in Melasma Treatment: A Randomized Split-Face Trial.Journal of cosmetic dermatology · 2025Trial
- Decoding Hyperpigmentation from Biological Mechanisms to Actives with Clinically Proven Topical Efficacy: A Narrative Review.Dermatology and therapy · 2026Review
- Efficacy and Safety of Picosecond Laser Combined With Sodium Hyaluronate for Melasma.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2026Article
- Efficacy and Tolerability of 0.2% Thiamidol Cream for Facial Hyperpigmentation: A Randomized, Double-Blind, and Vehicle-Controlled Study.Dermatology and therapy · 2026Article
- Efficacy and Safety of Laser-Based Therapies for Melasma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Cureus · 2026Review
- Recent advances in gene delivery for melanocyte-associated disorders.Advanced drug delivery reviews · 2025Review
- Pathogenesis of Melasma Explained.International journal of dermatology · 2025Review
- Clinical evidence of high-power 675 nm laser system equipped with a faster treatment modality for the management of pigmented lesions and skin rejuvenation.JAAD case reports · 2025Article
- Sunscreens in pigmentary disorders: time to revise the message.Photochemical & photobiological sciences : Official journal of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology · 2025Article
- Clinical Trials Conducted on Herbal Remedies for the Treatment of Melasma: A Scoping Review.Journal of cosmetic dermatology · 2025Article
- Energy-Based Methods and Nanocarrier-Based Approaches for Melasma Treatment.Advanced pharmaceutical bulletin · 2024Review
- Fermented Fish Collagen Attenuates Melanogenesis via Decreasing UV-Induced Oxidative Stress.Marine drugs · 2024Article
- Experience using 675 nm laser on three cases of Fitzpatrick skin type IV-V with melasma.Skin research and technology : official journal of International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin (ISBS) [and] International Society for Digital Imaging of Skin (ISDIS) [and] International Society for Skin Imaging (ISSI) · 2024Article
- Management of Melasma: Laser and Other Therapies-Review Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2024Review
- Comparative Sensing and Judgment Control System for Temperature Maintenance for Optimal Treatment in Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy Surgery.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Melasma is a dysregulation of the homeostatic mechanisms that control skin pigmentation and excess pigment is produced. Traditional treatment approaches with topical medications and chemical peels are commonly used but due to the refractory and recurrent nature of melasma, patients often seek alternative treatment strategies such as laser and light therapy. Several types of laser and light therapy have been studied in the treatment of melasma. Intense pulsed light, low fluence Q-switched lasers, and non-ablative fractionated lasers are the most common lasers and light treatments that are currently performed. They all appear effective but there is a high level of recurrence with time and some techniques are associated with an increased risk for postinflammatory hyper- or hypopigmentation. The number and frequency of treatments varies by device type but overall, Q-switched lasers require the greatest number of treatment applications to see a benefit. Vascular-specific lasers do not appear to be effective for the treatment of melasma. Ablative fractionated lasers should be used with caution because they have a very high risk for postinflammatory hypo- and hyperpigmentation. The use of nonablative fractionated laser treatments compared with other laser and light options may result in slightly longer remission intervals. Picosecond lasers, fractional radiofrequency, and laser-assisted drug delivery are promising future approaches to treat melasma. The goal of this review is to summarize the efficacy and safety of the most commonly used laser and light therapies to treat melasma, briefly present future laser-based treatment options for patients with melasma, and provide recommendations for treatment on the basis of the reviewed information.
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.