ABSTRACT
The present study was designed to evaluate the result of applying chemical peel by l% tretinoin versus glycolic acid 70%in the treatment of melasma. The study included 30 patients presented with epidermal melasma, tretinoin 1%solution was applied on the left side of the face while glycolic acid 70% was applied on the right side at weekly interval for 12 weeks. Assessment of patients was done at the end of the study for the improvement of melasma and the presence of associated complications. 30 caces [22 F: 8 M] were collected, the mean age of females was 37.09 +/- 8.8, and the mean age of males was 33 +/- 113. All patients are of skin type II, III and IV. After 12 weeks of treatment by glycolic acid 70% [right side] ,most of the patients showed good response. After 12 weeks of treatment by tretinoin 1% [left side] most of the patients showed good response. Tretinoin 1% solution is as effective as glycolic acid 70%peel in the treatment of melasma and it is less irritant and more tolerable than glycolic acid as a peeling agent