Clinical Improvement of Solar Lentigines and Ephelides with an Intense Pulsed Light Source

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A noncoherent, broadband, intense pulsed light (IPL) source has been used for the symptoms of photoaging skin as a nonablative method. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and tolerability of IPL in solar lentigines and ephelides on the face. METHODS: An open study was performed in patients with solar lentigines and ephelides who received three to five treatments of IPL. RESULTS: Forty-eight percent of patients had more than 50% improvement and 20% had more than 75% improvement. In the group of solar lentigines, 40% of patients showed more than 50% improvement and 16% had more than 75% improvement. Patients with small plaques of solar lentigines responded well, whereas patients with small + large and large plaques showed poor response. Patients with solar lentigines + ephelides and ephelides responded remarkably with 75% and 71% of patients, respectively, having more than 50% improvement. CONCLUSION: IPL was well tolerated and may be a new modality for the therapy of solar lentigines and ephelides.