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Published on: July 3, 2025
Treatment of Persistent Facial Postinflammatory Hyperpigmentation With Novel Pulse-in-Pulse Mode Intense Pulsed Light
Ji-Hye Park1, Jung-In Kim, Won-Serk Kim
1*Department of Dermatology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; †Department of Dermatology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Background:
Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is an acquired hypermelanosis induced by various causes including inflammatory dermatoses, injury, or cosmetic procedures, such as lasers or chemical peels, and it tends to affect dark-skinned people with greater frequency and severity. There are a variety of treatment options for PIH, including topical agents, chemical peels, laser, and light therapy. However, the results are not up to expectation.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical efficacy and safety of novel pulse-in-pulse mode intense pulsed light (IPL) for the treatment of persistent facial PIH in Korean patients.
Materials And Methods:
Twenty-five Korean female patients (Fitzpatrick skin types III-V) with persistent facial PIH were enrolled in the study. The patients were treated with novel pulse-in-pulse mode IPL for 4 sessions at 1-week interval and 4 sessions at 2-week intervals. Treatment efficacy and patient satisfaction were evaluated using photographs and questionnaires.
Results:
After 2 months of all treatments, 23 patients (92%) had more than 50% improvement and 22 patients (88%) were satisfied with the treatments. No adverse effects or aggravations were reported.
Conclusion:
The pulse-in-pulse mode IPL treatment is effective and safe for persistent facial PIH in dark-skinned patients.
