Photorejuvenation by intense pulsed light with objective measurement of skin color in Japanese patients.

Background And Objectives: This study had two objectives: subjective evaluation of overall skin rejuvenation effects of relatively short-wavelength intense pulsed light (IPL) and objective changes in basic skin tone as measured by a spectrophotometer.

Study Design/materials And Methods: Twenty-five women selected at random received a series of three IPL treatments. Efficacy was evaluated over a 3-month follow-up period. Concurrently, a spectrophotometer was used to measure "lightness" (L(*)) to quantify the lightening effect changes to pretreatment and posttreatment basic skin tone.

Results: Subjective improvement of 50% or more was seen in 18 of 25 patients for pigmentation. One patient showed exacerbation of latent epidermal melasma as a complication. In the spectrophotometric analysis, the mean value of L(*) increased from a baseline value of 60.86 to 63.22, at 3-month follow-up period, with statistical significance.

Conclusion: IPL skin rejuvenation using relatively shorter wavelengths and pulse widths brought about significant macroscopic and quantitative improvements, especially in the treatment of epidermal pigmentation and improvement of basic skin tone.