A prospective, split-face, double-blinded, randomized study of the efficacy and safety of a fractional 1064-nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser for photoaging-associated mottled pigmentation in Asian skin

Background: Laser toning using low-fluence 1064-nm Q-switched neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum laser (QSNY) has gained popularity in the treatment of photoaging-associated mottled pigmentation (PMP). However, hypopigmentation or lack of efficacy has been reported depending on the fluences used.

Objective: To compare a novel fractional 1064-nm QSNY with conventional 1064-nm QSNY for the treatment of photoaging-associated mottled pigmentary lesions except epidermal lesions of lentigines and freckles through a randomized, split-face, double-blind study.

Materials and methods: Thirteen Asian women were treated every week for 6 weeks with fractional 1064-nm QSNY on one side of the face and conventional 1064-nm QSNY on the other side. We evaluated the pigmentation area and severity index (PSI), melanin index, erythema index, and the patient's global assessment of improvement.

Results: At three months post-treatment, the PSI score improved compared with baseline, by 14.48% on the conventional 1064-nm QSNY side and 21.81% on the fractional 1064-nm QSNY side. Both groups showed improvements in the melanin index.

Conclusion: Both fractional 1064-nm QSNY and strictly low-fluence conventional 1064-nm QSNY are moderately effective against PMP and other photoaging signs. Fractional laser toning shows better subjective outcomes than conventional toning.