Effect of Trichloroacetic acid and glycolic acid peel on melasma via split-face technique

Background: Melasma is prevalent worldwide. This typical disease mostly affects women of reproductive age from all racial groups. But has a predilection for darker skin type. Melasma is more common in women than in men. Men have been reported to represent 10% of cases and demonstrate the same clinical and histological characteristics as women. It is associated with sun exposure and pregnancy hormonal disorder. Objective: To study the effect of Trichloroacetic acid and glycolic acid peel on melasma via split-face technique. Materials and Methods: Sixty patients of both the sex attending the outpatient clinic of Dermatology Department, with clinically evident bilaterally symmetrical melasma and in good health with normal finding in medical history and physical examination, were included in the study. Pregnant females and one-year postdelivery or lactating females and females on oral contraceptive pills or patients with preexisting inflammatory dermatoses such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, or with history of infection or with keloidal tendency were excluded from the study. Result: There was an improvement of melasma via trichloroacetic acid as well as glycolic acid peel on both sides of the face. Conclusion: On comparing the two peels in terms of side effects, more adverse events were seen with 15% trichloroacetic acid. Glycolic acid on the other hand showed mild side effects in very few patients.