Four methods of evaluation of facial erythema and pigment treated with intense pulsed light or cream

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate methods of evaluation of patients with mild to moderate facial pigmentation or erythema and compare clinical and photographic grading with instrumental evaluation. Methods: Of the 24 female subjects treated, 12 were treated with intense pulsed light (IPL) and 12 were treated with daily cream program. Evaluations before and at 16 weeks consisted of:

1. Clinical examination and severity grading by a dermatologist without knowledge of treatment given.

2. Standardised photographs were evaluated by two other dermatologists without knowledge of treatment given.

3. A computer controlled photographic skin analysis systems was used to grade severity of erythema and pigmentation.

4. Subjects were asked to assess their response at the end of a 16-week period, that is, subject self-evaluation.

Results: On clinical evaluation of IPL subjects, 12 showed improvement. Of the cream subjects, 11 showed improvement. There was correlation between dermatologist facial examination and the instrumental method. Overall the different assessments showed a slightly greater trend for improvement with IPL treatments for erythema and pigmentation, but no statistical differences were found between the treatments using Student's t-test and Anova analysis of comparative improvement.

Key Words::

• measurement
• erythema
• pigmentation
• IPL
• creams

Acknowledgement

The authors acknowledge James Umbanhower, PhD, for statistical analysis.

Declaration of interest: N.J.L. developed and owns the topical formulations. R.B., D.H. and H.H. have no conflict of interest. N.J.L. received a research grant from Phillips, Holland for research into non-invasive instrumental skin evaluation.