Dermabrasion: a curative treatment for melasma

Melasma is fairly common in Asian patients with a dark skin tone. It has long been known for its recalcitrance to any form of treatment. The objective of this article is to propose mechanical dermabrasion as a curative treatment for this entity. Five hundred and thirty-three patients with melasma were treated by mechanical dermabrasion using a rotatory diamond fraise. Four hundred and ten patients were available for long-term follow-up (mean follow-up time 5 years, range 1-9 years). Out of 410 patients, 398 (97%) achieved persistent clearance of melasma; in the remaining cases, there was partial recurrence after initial clearance. The common temporary sequelae were postoperative erythema or hyperpigmentation, pruritus, and milia formation. Two patients developed hypertrophic scars, one on the upper lip and one on the jawline, and one patient had permanent hypopigmentation on the forehead. In conclusion, mechanical dermabrasion is a relatively safe and highly effective means for curing melasma.