A study comparing chemical peeling using trichloroacetic acid and Jessner’s solution in the treatment of Melasma

Abstract EN

Background : Melasma is a symmetric progressive hyperpigmentation of the facial skin.

TCA and Jessner’s peel solution are the most popular peeling agents used and most commonly used for superficial and medium depth peels.

Aim : is to compare the efficacy and complications of both Trichloroacetic acid 25 % and Jessner's peel solution in the treatment of melasma.

Methods : Our study included 29 patients with melasma.

Patients were subjected to wood’s light to determine the melasma type as the epidermal melasma were included in this study.

Split face approach was used as TCA was applied on the right side of the face, and standard jessner’s solution was applied on the left side of the face.

Every patient had pre peeling preparation period of 2 weeks, sessions were carried out every 2 weeks (each patient had 6 sessions and was followed-up for 3 months).

Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) were used for clinical evaluation.

MASI was recorded in the first visit (baseline score), at the end of the sessions and after the follow up period.

Results : There were no statistically significant differences between the two studied methods of treatment regarding degree of improvement according to physicians, patients or blinded observer (p > 0.05).

Also, there were no statistically significant difference between both studied methods of treatment regarding mean MASI score at baseline (p > 0.05).

TCA treated side showed highly significant lower mean MASI score after the end of sessions than Jessner's solution treated side (4.9 ± 2.7 vs.

5.5 ± 2.7) (p < 0.01).

Conclusion : Our findings suggest that either TCA or Jessner's solution can be effectively used to treat melasma.