Efficacy of combination of fractional CO2 laser and tranexamic 5% gel in the treatment of melasma

Melasma is a common disease affecting quality of life. Available treatments result in the gradual and partial clearance of melasma, and are accompanied with high risk of recurrence after discontinuing treatment. Tranexamic acid has been successfully evaluated in several studies. In addition, laser has been proposed as an enhanced drug delivery method. This study is designed to evaluate this enhancing effect.

Twenty-five patients with bilateral epidermal and mixed type melasma were recruited in the study and applied tranexamic 5% gel bilaterally on face two times a day and randomly underwent fractional CO2 laser treatment on one side of the face monthly. They were evaluated before starting treatment and then every 4 weeks by measuring modified melasma area severity index (mMASI) and melanin index by Dermacatch (Colorix, Switzerland). Also, quality of life was measured and compared in a subset of patients with MELAS QoL questionnaire before and after treatment. The results were analyzed by SPSS software version 18 and the results were compared by paired t test. Due to multiple comparisons, p value of 0.0125 was considered significant.

The mMASI and melanin index were not significantly different between two sides in each follow up (P>0.0125). The mMASI and melanin index significantly decreased after treatment with tranexamic acid with or without fractional CO2 laser (P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively)

Although tranexamic acid 5% gel is effective in the treatment of melasma, however, our study did not show additive therapeutic effect by adding fractional CO2 laser to it.