Abstract:

Tang Zhiming, Zhai Xiaoxiang, Li Jingguo, Shan Xiao, Jing Mengqing, Li Yongcong Department of Dermatology, Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Xuzhou City, Xuzhou 221003, Jiangsu, China Corresponding author: Tang Zhiming, Email: 158914788@qq.com 【Abstract】 Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of glycolic acid peeling combined with Babaisan for the treatment of melasma. Methods Totally, 72 patients with melasma were randomly and equally divided into 2 groups to be treated with glycolic acid peeling alone （the glycolic acid group） or in combination with Babaisan （the combination group）. Glycolic acid peeling was performed once every two weeks for 4 sessions. The concentrations and residence time of glycolic acid were gradually increased according to the tolerance of patients, and should not exceed 70% and 5 minutes respectively. Babaisan was topically applied one week after each session of glycolic acid peeling. After 8?week treatment, melasma area and severity index （MASI） scores and skin conditions were assessed quantitatively. Results Before the treatment, there was no significant difference in MASI scores between the combination group and glycolic acid group （19.16 ± 2.34 vs. 20.27 ± 2.18, P > 0.05）. After 8?week treatment, MASI scores significantly decreased in both the combination group （9.36 ± 1.44, P < 0.05） and glycolic acid group （15.13 ± 1.78, P < 0.05）. Moreover, the degree of decline in MASI scores was significantly higher in the combination group than in the glycolic acid group （9.56 ± 1.31 vs. 4.78 ± 1.05, P < 0.05）, so was the total response rate （83.3% ［30/36］ vs. 58.3%［21/36］, P < 0.05）. VISIA skin analysis showed that facial pigmented spots, wrinkles, skin texture, pores and rhodopsin were all evidently improved in the two groups after treatment, and the improvement was significantly greater in the combination group than in the glycolic acid group （P < 0.05）. Conclusions Glycolic acid peeling combined with Babaisan is a safe and effective approach to the treatment of melasma and improvement of skin conditions. It is worthy of clinical promotion.