Melasma — Tranexamic Acid vs. Combination With Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser in Melasma
Citation(s)
Jalaly NY, Valizadeh N, Barikbin B, Yousefi M Low-power fractional CO2 laser versus low-fluence Q-switch 1,064 nm Nd:YAG laser for treatment of melasma: a randomized, controlled, split-face study. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2014 Aug;15(4):357-63. doi: 10.1007/s40257-014-0080-x.
Saki N, Darayesh M, Heiran A Comparing the efficacy of topical hydroquinone 2% versus intradermal tranexamic acid microinjections in treating melasma: a split-face controlled trial. J Dermatolog Treat. 2018 Jun;29(4):405-410. doi: 10.1080/09546634.2017.1392476. Epub 2017 Nov 9.
Tawfic SO, Abdel Halim DM, Albarbary A, Abdelhady M Assessment of combined fractional CO(2) and tranexamic acid in melasma treatment. Lasers Surg Med. 2019 Jan;51(1):27-33. doi: 10.1002/lsm.23032. Epub 2018 Nov 15.
Trelles MA, Velez M, Gold MH The treatment of melasma with topical creams alone, CO2 fractional ablative resurfacing alone, or a combination of the two: a comparative study. J Drugs Dermatol. 2010 Apr;9(4):315-22.
Comparing Tranexamic Acid Microinjection Alone Versus Its Combination With Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser in Melasma Treatment
Interventional studies are often prospective and are specifically tailored to evaluate direct impacts of treatment or preventive measures on disease.
Observational studies are often retrospective and are used to assess potential causation in exposure-outcome relationships and therefore influence preventive methods.
Expanded access is a means by which manufacturers make investigational new drugs available, under certain circumstances, to treat a patient(s) with a serious disease or condition who cannot participate in a controlled clinical trial.
Clinical trials are conducted in a series of steps, called phases - each phase is designed to answer a separate research question.
Phase 1: Researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects.
Phase 2: The drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it is effective and to further evaluate its safety.
Phase 3: The drug or treatment is given to large groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow the drug or treatment to be used safely.
Phase 4: Studies are done after the drug or treatment has been marketed to gather information on the drug's effect in various populations and any side effects associated with long-term use.
