Prospective Study of Growth Factor Concentrate Therapy for Treatment of Melasma

Background: Melasma is a common acquired pigmentary skin disorder. Currently, there are various treatment options available but none is effective universally. Objective: Assess the role of Yuskin (R), a growth factor concentrate (GFC) therapy, a modified platelet rich plasma (PRP) technique for the treatment of melasma. Materials and Methods: Subjects of Fitzpatrick skin type IV-V, of either gender, more than equal to 18 years of age, with a clinical diagnosis of melasma were enrolled in the study. Total three sessions of GFC monotherapy were given with one-month interval (day 0, day 30, and day 60) and follow up of subjects was done at day 90 for the final clinical assessment. Results: Out of 40 subjects enrolled, 30 subjects completed three GFC sessions and 26, completed day 90 follow-up. Statistically significant decrease in the mean mMASI scores was observed at all visits compared to baseline (P < 0.005 for each visit). Totally, 66.7% of severe melasma subjects showed improvement to mild to moderate category. Significant improvement in mean mMASI score was seen in subjects who had mild to moderate melasma at baseline (P < 0.05). Overall, aesthetic improvement was reported in 88.5% of subjects. Side effects reported were mild such as injection site pain, erythema, oedema and bruising, and resolved spontaneously within a few hours to few days of onset. Conclusion: Significant improvement in melasma was observed with GFC monotherapy, which needs further confirmation in larger randomized controlled studies. Overall, it was well tolerated. Thus, GFC therapy can be a safe, effective, and new option in the armamentarium of melasma management.

Automated summary

The study examined the efficacy of GFC monotherapy in treating melasma, showing significant improvement in mMASI scores, especially in patients with mild to moderate melasma. The treatment was well-tolerated with mild side effects and reported aesthetic improvements in 88.5% of subjects. Its safety and effectiveness suggest that GFC therapy could be a promising new option for managing melasma.