Successful Short-Term and Long-Term Treatment of Melasma and Postinflammatory Hyperpigmentation Using Vitamin C With a Full-Face Iontophoresis Mask and a Mandelic/Malic Acid Skin Care Regimen

January 2013 | Volume 12 | Issue 1 | Original Article | 45 | Copyright © January 2013


Mark B. Taylor MDa, Jamal S. Yanaki MS EdDb, David O. Draper PhDc, Joe C. Shurtz BSc, and Mark Coglianese PhDc

aGateway Aesthetic Institute, Salt Lake City, UT bActivaTek Inc, Salt Lake City, UT cDepartment of Exercise Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT

to the 10% mandelic/10% malic acid formula following a few weeks of conditioning with the lower concentration. The pH of both products is 3.1 to 3.3. The personal experience of one author (M.B.T.) has shown mandelic/malic acid to be a less irritating α-hydroxy acid than glycolic acid and better tolerated in PIH-sensitive darker skin types.
This study supports the safe and effective use of a full-face iontophoresis mask for treatment of melasma as an important method for obtaining sufficient concentrations of vitamin C at therapeutic levels and skin depth to effect a favorable clinical response. The long-term use of a novel mandelic and malic acid skin care regimen further supports sustained improvement (mean, 26 months) when used in combination with a strict sun-protection protocol. Compliance with a strict regimen of sun protection and avoidance is difficult to measure. It is assumed that the patients in this study were much less than 100% compliant; however, a satisfactory improvement in melasma and PIH was still achieved.

DISCLOSURES

Dr. Taylor has an equity interest in Cosmion LLC and MCK Labs. Mr. Yanaki has an equity interest in ActivaTek Inc, a manufacturer of iontophoresis products. The other authors have no relevant conflicts of interest to disclose.

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