Efficacy of trichloroacetic acid peel in the treatment of facial melasma

ABSTRACT

Modern medical exfoliation with trichloroacetic acid [TCA] formulas began in 1926, today TCA peels are used to treat a multitude of cutaneous disorders. Melasma is a common pigmentary disorder characterized by the development of slowly enlarging tan-brown macules and patches. Thirty female patients with moderate to severe facial epidermal melasma were included in the present study. Patients' melasma was treated by application of 35% trichloroacetic acid peel once which may be repeated for the second time after 3 months depending on the clinical results after peeling. All patients were followed up once weekly during the first month, then monthly for a total of 6 months. Improvement ranged between excellent to fair, 20% of patients required second [TCA] application after 3 months from the first