Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser Assisted Delivery of Tranexamic Acid Versus Ascorbic Acid in Treatment of Melasma, A Split Face Comparative Study with Digital Skin Analysis

Eissa, Bayoumy Ibrahim Abd-El Hameed; Ammar, Amr Mohammad Ahmed Mahmoud; Shoaib, Omar Ahmed Abdelfattah Saleem

doi:/10.21608/aimj.2025.446469

Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser Assisted Delivery of Tranexamic Acid Versus Ascorbic Acid in Treatment of Melasma, A Split Face Comparative Study with Digital Skin Analysis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology, Faculty of Medicine for Boys, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

/10.21608/aimj.2025.446469

Abstract

Background: Melasma is characterized as a brownish-red facial pigmentation that is blotchy and appears on both cheeks and forehead.
Aim and objectives: Comparing the safety and effectiveness of using a fractional CO2 laser in conjunction with topical tranexamic acid vs ascorbic acid in the treatment of melasma.
Patients and methods: Forty individuals, spanning the ages of 20 to 50, diagnosed with melasma were included in this prospective split-face comparison investigation. From May 2023 through September 2024, patients were enrolled in the dermatology outpatient clinics at Al-Azhar University Hospitals.
Results: Treatment resulted in noticeably higher mean melanin and masi scores on the L-side compared to the R-side (P=0.04 and P=0.002, respectively).
Conclusion: For melasma, the best treatment is a combination of low-power fractional CO2 and post-laser TXA or vitamin C; however, TXA works better in resistant instances.

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