Abstract: Objective To evaluate the efficacy of intense pulse light(IPL)in the treatment of facial aging,including unevenness in pigmentation,telangiectasis,skin dryness,roughness and fine wrinkles. Methods One hundred and seventy-eight patients with facial aging were treated with IPL for four times at an interval of 3-4 weeks.Assessment of global aging scores was performed for these patients by doctors betbre and one month after the final treatment.Patients' satisfaction was also investigated one month after the final treatment.Skin melanin index,erythema index and water content of stratum corneum were tested before and one month after the final treatment.Results One month after the final treatment,the global aging scores assessed by doctors significantly decreased in comparison with the baseline scores before treatment,and the patients' satisfaction rate reached 90.45%;the melanin index was significantly reduced on the forehead,pcriorbital region,perioral region and lower mandible(all P<0.01);and erythema index significantly fell on the forehead(P<0.01),around the lips(P<0.05),and on the lower mandible(P<0.05).No statistical changes were observed for the water content of stratum corneum before and after the treatment,Conclusion IPL is a safe and highly effective treatment option for facial aging.

Key words: Skin aging, Intense pulsed light, Melanin index, Erythema index