The Effects of Acupuncture Combined with Auricular Acupressure in the Treatment of Chloasma

Abstract EN

Objective.

To investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture combined with auricular acupressure in chloasma treatment.

Methods.

A prospective, randomized controlled assessor-blind clinical trial was performed and 135 patients were assigned into acupuncture combined with auricular acupressure (A), acupuncture (B), and control (C) groups, each with 45 patients.

For groups A and B, body and facial acupuncture were applied for 2 months.

For group A, auricular acupressure was applied concomitantly.

For group C, vitamins C and E were prescribed for 3 months.

Primary outcome measure was the therapeutic effects while secondary outcome measure was safety evaluation.

Results.

The total effective rate was 95.6%, 91.1%, and 75.6% for groups A, B, and C (P<0.01 between groups A and C; P<0.05 between groups B and C).

The posttreatment estradiol (E2) levels in groups A and B were significantly decreased while the progesterone (P4) levels were significantly increased compared to pretreatment (P<0.01 and P<0.05, resp.).

The differences were significant compared to group C (P<0.01 and P<0.05, resp.).

No adverse events occurred.

Conclusion.

Acupuncture combined with auricular acupressure could significantly increase the therapeutic effect of chloasma treatment and could be better than vitamins C and E.