{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,17]],"date-time":"2026-06-17T15:42:40Z","timestamp":1781710960968,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,11]],"date-time":"2025-12-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1765411200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":10,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["J of Cosmetic Dermatology"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,12]]},"abstract":"ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n \n Introduction<\/jats:title>\n Laser treatment is one of the most common methods currently used to treat melasma. Here in, we reviewed RCTs with at least one laser therapy arm used in net form for treatment, so as to assess the use of laser therapy for melasma treatment with a degree of certainty.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Methods<\/jats:title>\n \n A systematic literature search was performed on the effectiveness of laser therapy for melasma treatment in the period from 2010 to 2024 using the keywords\n melasma<\/jats:italic>\n ,\n laser<\/jats:italic>\n , and\n efficacy<\/jats:italic>\n in the title. Finally, a meta\u2010analysis was conducted using the mean and standard deviation of the Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) variations before and after each session of laser therapy in different studies.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results<\/jats:title>\n \n Sixteen RCTs on the efficacy, safety, and recurrence associated with laser therapy for melasma were eventually included and assessed. A total of 471 patients with a mean age of 35.3\u201346.4\u2009years were examined. The 1064\u2010nm Q\u2010Switched Nd:YAG Laser (QSNd:YAG) was the most common laser investigated in the studies. There were 2\u201312 treatment sessions, with 1\u20134\u2010week intervals, and the patients' follow\u2010up period was 2\u20136\u2009months. The use of SSR (Super Skin Rejuvenation, 540\u2009nm), low\u2010energy QSNDY, and pixel\u2010Er:YAG (Erbium YAG) for five sessions at 3\u2010week intervals showed a very significant decrease in the modified MASI (mMASI) score (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u2009<\u20090.001). Pixel\u2010Er:YAG showed the maximum mMASI reduction and homogeneity (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u2009>\u20090.001). Epidermal melasma had the best results with SSR and PQSND (Y Pixel Q\u2010Switched Nd:YAG Laser) (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u2009<\u20090.001).\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n \n Among the reviewed RCTs, the largest weight was assigned to a 2014 study that examined 40 patients (4.79% weight). The standardized variation of the mean MASI was negative in all studies, except for a 2011 study, which had the lowest weight among the studies (2.84%), indicating the mitigation of symptoms following laser therapy. A meta\u2010analysis of 16 research studies (26 treatment arms) was performed to determine the efficacy of laser therapy for melasma. Treatment resulted in a significant improvement in MASI scores, with a pooled standardized mean difference of 0.88 (95% CI: 0.65\u20131.11,\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u2009<\u20090.00001). Due to moderate\u2010to\u2010high heterogeneity (\n I<\/jats:italic>\n 2<\/jats:sup>\n \u2009=\u200968.4%), a random\u2010effects model was employed. Overall, the findings indicate that for the majority of patients, laser therapy reduces pigmentation and lesion severity.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1111\/jocd.70602","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,11]],"date-time":"2025-12-11T11:31:46Z","timestamp":1765452706000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["The Efficacy of Laser Therapy in Melasma Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta\u2010Analysis"],"prefix":"10.1111","volume":"24","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-4884-5073","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Masoomeh","family":"Chehrara","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Iran University of Medical Science Tehran Iran"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Anahita","family":"Tabavar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, Hazrat Fatemeh Hospital, School of Medicine Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS) Tehran Iran"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2862-6422","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Masoumeh","family":"Roohaninasab","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, Hazrat Fatemeh Hospital, School of Medicine Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS) Tehran Iran"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4527-2259","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Paria","family":"Jafary","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, Hazrat Fatemeh Hospital, School of Medicine Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS) Tehran Iran"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3064-4299","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Arash Pour","family":"Mohammad","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medicine Iran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9417-4295","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Samaneh","family":"Mozafarpoor","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Center, Department of Dermatology Isfahan University of Medical Sciences Isfahan Iran"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1056-5913","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ehsan","family":"Alavi Rad","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Radiology, School of Medicine Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1249-4429","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Azadeh","family":"Goodarzi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, Hazrat Fatemeh Hospital, School of Medicine Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS) Tehran Iran"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_11_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.29271\/jcpsp.2018.01.13"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/09546634.2018.1516858"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.5021\/ad.2019.31.2.133"},{"issue":"4","key":"e_1_2_11_5_1","first-page":"124","article-title":"Topical Tranexamic Acid With Microneedling in Melasma","volume":"3","author":"Kaur A.","year":"2019","journal-title":"Acta Scientiarum Medicarum Scientiarum"},{"issue":"4","key":"e_1_2_11_6_1","first-page":"28","article-title":"Dual Effect of Photobiomodulation on Melasma: Downregulation of Hyperpigmentation and Enhanced Solar Resistance\u2014A Pilot Study","volume":"11","author":"Barolet D.","year":"2018","journal-title":"Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic 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Treatments for Melasma: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials","volume":"18","author":"Austin E.","year":"2019","journal-title":"Journal of Drugs in Dermatology"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_27_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1155\/2018\/1683414"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_28_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/DSS.0000000000001964"},{"issue":"11","key":"e_1_2_11_29_1","first-page":"1104","article-title":"A Randomized, Controlled, Split\u2010Face Study of the Efficacy of a Picosecond Laser in the Treatment of Melasma","volume":"18","author":"Lyons A. 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