Observational studyJournal of cosmetic dermatology2025
Modulation of Melanocyte in Melasma Patients After Picosecond Laser Treatment.
Observational study in Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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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.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Retrospective Analysis of the Therapeutic Outcomes of Microneedle Radiofrequency on Melasma by Optical Coherence Tomography: A Observational Pilot Study.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Targeting Melasma: Innovations in Pigment Deposition and Photoaging in Cosmetic Dermatology.Journal of cosmetic dermatology · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMelasma is a therapeutically challenging hyperpigmented skin condition. Currently, there is a lack of in vivo observation regarding changes in melanin and dendritic melanocytes after laser treatment.
objectiveTo investigate alterations in melanin and melanocytes in melasma before and after laser treatment using optical coherence tomography (OCT).
methodsEight female melasma patients were enrolled in Taiwan. Based on the baseline OCT scans, the patients were categorized into either epidermal-type or mixed-type melasma and were assigned different treatment protocols accordingly. Sequential OCT images were collected from melasma lesions and normal skin at baseline, Week 4 and Week 8.
resultsAfter 8 weeks of laser treatment, the mean Melasma Area Severity Index (MASI) score improved from 10.92 to 6.30. Results from OCT showed no significant changes in the normalized density, area, or intensity of melanin in both lesional and normal skin. At baseline, the mean length of dendritic melanocytes in the affected skin was 15% longer than those in normal skin; at Week 8, the mean length of lesional dendritic melanocytes became the same as those in normal skin. Additionally, the mean width of dendritic melanocytes decreased from being 4% wider to only 2% wider than those in normal skin.
conclusionAfter 8 weeks of treatment, an improvement of MASI score was noted, mainly attributable to a reduction in lesional area. OCT showed no notable change regarding melanin, but a decrease in length and width of dendritic melanocytes was noted in the lesional skin of melasma patients.
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