Photorejuvenation for Asian Skin by Intense Pulsed Light

Background. Dermabrasion and deep chemical peeling are used in the treatment of photoaged skin. These ablative procedures are effective enough to produce a certain improvement but have often caused postinflammatory hyperpigmentation among Asian patients. To avoid such adverse effects, a new, nonablative procedure has been sought. Objective. To determine the effectiveness of photorejuvenation for Asian skin using intense pulsed light (IPL). The specific parameters used, improvement ratios, side‐effects, and downtime required are also discussed. Methods. Ninety‐seven patients were treated for photoaging using IPL. The cutoff filters of 550 nm and 570 nm were utilized for three to six treatments at intervals of 2 to 3 weeks. Results. Treatment results were evaluated and rated by both patients and physicians at the end of the third treatment based on improvement in pigmentation, telangiectasia, and skin texture. A combined rating of “good” or “excellent” was given to more than 90% of the patients for pigmentation, more than 83% for telangiectasia, and more than 65% for skin texture. There were some minor complications in four cases: one had erythema that continued to the next day and three had minor blisters leaving no marks. Conclusion. Photorejuvenation using IPL is a completely safe and effective procedure even for Asian skin. It will be increasingly used for skin rejuvenation in the future.