Intradermal Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Melasma: A Clinical and Dermoscopic Evaluation in Dark Skin

Melasma is a common dermatosis in both men and women showing varying degrees of success with treatment. Relapse of melasma is high in dark skin types, which necessitates the need for finding a modality of treatment, which not only treats but also prevents relapse.

To study the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in patients of melasma both clinically and dermoscopically in dark skin types.

A prospective study of 20 female patients of Fitzpatrick skin type IV-V with mixed type of melasma and bilateral involvement of the face were enrolled for the study. PRP was injected intradermally at 4 weeks interval for three sittings, and the results were assessed clinically (by modified melasma area and severity score) and dermoscopically. Patients were counselled to ensure strict sun protection measures. Patient satisfaction was noted at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks. Patients were followed up for 3 months to see for any relapse of the pigmentation. The follow-up showed no relapse of melasma in these patients.

Analysis of variance was used with Bonferroni correction for modified melasma area and severity score at various time interval. Subject global aesthetic improvement scale (SGAIS) and physician global esthetic improvement scale (PGAIS) were expressed in counts. P-value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.

Modified melasma area and severity score and dermoscopic changes showed statistically significant improvement compared at the end of study in mild to severe cases. The subjective assessment was made by PGAIS. Patient satisfaction levels (assessed by SGAIS) also showed significant improvement in successive weeks of treatment. Few patients had mild redness and burning post procedure, which resolved spontaneously after few hours.

From this study we concluded that PRP shows a significant improvement in melasma after 12 weeks of treatment with no relapse even after 3 months. Hence, PRP may be used not only as an adjuvant but also as a first line treatment in the view of longer sustained results when combined with strict sun protection. There is a paucity of studies showing results of PRP treatment in dark skin types, which is more resistant to treatment than lighter skin. Moreover, clinical improvement should not be the only parameter to decide on stopping treatment as chances of relapse can be higher. Dermoscopic evaluation helps in determining the changes in vasculature (telangiectasias) and pigmentation (dots and globules), which are better indicators of success of treatment.