TREATMENT OF MELASMA WITH JESSNERS SOLUTION VERSUS GLYCOLIC ACID - A COMPARISON OF CLINICAL EFFICACY AND EVALUATION OF THE PREDICTIVE ABILITY OF WOODS LIGHT EXAMINATION

Background: Melasma can be resistant to topical therapy. Objective: Ou r purpose was to evaluate the efficacy of superficial peels in conjunc tion with topical tretinoin and hydroquinone in patients with melasma and to evaluate the ability of Wood's Light examination to predict res ponse to treatment. Methods: We measured increased Light reflectance i n melasma areas with a colorimeter. Clinical observations were scored through an index designed to weigh numerically homogeneity, intensity of color, and area of melasma. Results: Colorimetric analysis showed a n average lightening of 3.14 +/- 3.1 on the glycolic acid-treated side and 2.96 +/- 4.84 on the Jessner's solution-treated side. There was n o statistically significant difference between the light and left. The re was an overall decrease in melasma area and severity of 63%.Conclus ion: Superficial peels hasten the effects of topical therapy in melasm a. Wood's light examination did not help predict response to treatment .