Low-power Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser Followed by Jessner's Peel versus Jessner's Peel Alone for the Treatment of Melasma.

Background: A number of treatments have been used to treat melasma, with varying degrees of success and side effects.

Objective: We sought to compare the efficacy of a single session of low-power fractional CO2 (10,600 nm) laser followed by Jessner's solution peeling against that of Jessner's solution peeling alone for the treatment of melasma by way of a prospective cohort comparative study performed at Alexandria Main University Hospital in Alexandria, Egypt. This study included 40 Egyptian female patients diagnosed with melasma. Group A received a single session of low-power fractional CO2 laser followed by Jessner's solution peeling for up to six sessions, while Group B received up to six sessions of Jessner's solution peeling alone. Responses were evaluated using the modified Melasma Area and Severity Index (mMASI) score.

Results: There was a statistically significant (p≤0.001) difference between mMASI score between before and after treatment in both groups. There was no intergroup significant difference in mMASI score improvements.

Conclusion: Both low-power fractional CO2 laser combined with Jessner's solution and Jessner's solution peeling alone were safe and effective for the treatment of melasma in patients with different skin types, especially in dark skin types (Fitzpatrick Skin Types III and IV).