GLYCOLIC ACID PEELS FOR POSTINFLAMMATORY HYPERPIGMENTATION IN BLACK PATIENTS - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY

BACKGROUND. Treatment of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation in patient s of Fitzpatrick skin types IV, V, and VI is difficult. Glycolic acid peels are useful for pigment dyschromias in caucasians; however, there are no controlled studies examining their safety and efficacy in dark -complexioned individuals. OBJECTIVE. To determine if serial glycolic acid peels provide additional improvement when compared with a topical regimen of hydroquinone and tretinoin. METHODS. Nineteen patients wit h Fitzpatrick skin type IV, V, or VI were randomized to a control or p eel group. The control group applied 2% hydroquinone/10% glycolic acid gel tu,ice daily and 0.05% tretinoin cream at night. The peel patient s used the same topical regimen and, in addition, received six serial glycolic acid peels (68% maximum concentration). Patients were evaluat ed with photography, colorimetry, and subjectively. RESULTS. Sixteen p atients completed the study. Both treatment groups demonstrated improv ement, but the patients receiving the glycolic acid peels showed a tre nd toward more rapid and greater improvement. The peel group also expe rienced increased lightening of the normal skin. CONCLUSIONS. This pil ot study demonstrates that serial glycolic acid peels provide an addit ional benefit, with minimal adverse effects, for the treatment of post inflammatory hyperpigmentation in dark-complexioned individuals. (C) 1 997 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc.