Effective Treatment for Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation Caused by Cosmetic Procedures

Lim, Youngkyoung; Lee, Jong Hee

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is one of the most common adverse effects associated with dermatologic procedures, especially those for cosmetic purposes. Low fluence Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser (LFQS) has been widely used for this condition in the field, but reports in the literature are scarce.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to evaluate the clinical benefit and limitation of LFQS in the treatment of PIH after cosmetic procedures.
METHODS
Patients with PIH after laser treatment were enrolled in the study. Patients were treated with LFQS at an interval of 2 to 3 weeks. Photographs were taken. Objective measurement included erythema and melanin indices at the same site. Two blinded assessors graded the degree of improvement using a photograph based on a quartile scale (0~3). Patient satisfaction after treatment was also reported.
RESULTS
A total of 45 patients were included in the analysis. Patients received 10 treatment sessions. Patients who started LFQS treatment within 3 months after the causal event showed a better treatment outcome. Those who had a higher erythema index before treatment tended to respond less to the treatment.
CONCLUSION
LFQS may be a good treatment modality for patients with PIH. Earlier treatment can provide rapid resolution and better clinical results. However, for patients with PIH combined with intense erythema, LFQS may not be the first choice to consider in the clinical field.