A Topical Depigmentation Program Against Hyperpigmentation Enhances the Benefits of Previously Performed Chemical Peeling Procedures of the Face.

Abstract

Chemical peeling can reduce skin hyperpigmentation; however, once exhausted its thinning action, the depigmentation process does not continue further. We carried out a monocentric, prospective, noncontrolled study aimed at the evaluation of the efficacy, safety, ease of use, pleasantness, and tolerability of a depigmentation topical treatment program in women submitted to a previous chemical peeling. The topical treatment has been administered daily for 30 days to 16 women submitted to a chemical peeling containing a fixed-dose combination of salicylic acid, pyruvic acid, and retinoic acid within 7 days before study inclusion. Target skin areas have been evaluated for melanin concentration and skin texture before peeling and at study visits 1 (after peeling) and 2 (after the 30-day treatment). The topical treatment program induced a decrease in melanin concentration between study visits 1 and 2 (-4.74%; p = 0.0008). It reduced melanin concentration even further between the prepeeling period and visit 2 (-7.8%; p < 0.0001). Patients rated the depigmentation topical treatment program as "very simple" (87.5%) and "simple" (12.5%) to use and as "pleasant" (56.25%) and "very pleasant" (43.75%). Results support the use of the home-based depigmentation topical treatment program to potentiate the effectiveness of a previous chemical peeling in hyperpigmentation reduction.