Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of a triphasic treatment protocol based on Q-Switched 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser, photobiomodulation therapy, and chemical peels in patients with melasma. Methods: A prospective case series was conducted in 10 female patients diagnosed with melasma. Participants underwent a combined treatment protocol over a six-month period, including Q-Switched 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser, photobiomodulation therapy, and chemical peels. Clinical assessment, standardized photographic documentation, melasma classification, therapeutic response, adverse effects, and patient satisfaction were evaluated throughout the follow-up period.Results: Mixed melasma was the most frequent subtype before treatment (50.0%), followed by epidermal (30.0%) and dermal melasma (20.0%). At the end of treatment, lesion extension decreased in 80.0% of patients, while 50.0% showed improvement in skin brightness and texture. No cases of epidermal melasma were observed after treatment. Adverse effects were mild and transient, with burning sensation (60.0%) and erythema (30.0%) being the most common. Overall, 80.0% of patients reported complete satisfaction with the treatment outcomes.Conclusions: The triphasic protocol combining Q-Switched 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser, photobiomodulation therapy, and chemical peels proved to be a safe and effective therapeutic option for melasma management, promoting reduction of facial hyperpigmentation, improvement in skin quality, and high patient satisfaction.
References
Trelles MA, Allones I. El láser en la cirugía dermatológica y plástica iberoamericana: evolución de parámetros y seguridad clínica. J Iberolatinoam Láser Méd. 2011;14(2):45-53.
2-Kaur S, Anusruti A, Sharma A. Dual-wavelength Er:YAG and Nd:YAG laser systems in dermatology: a systematic review of clinical efficacy and thermal tissue interactions. Lasers Med Sci. 2022;37(4):1123-1135.
3-Gold MH. Update on benign cutaneous lesions excision using Er:YAG lasers: minimizing thermal collateral damage in pediatric and adult skin. Dermatol Surg. 2019;45(8):1021-1029.
4-Alcolea JM, Trelles MA. Modulación del daño térmico residual y reprogramación queratinocitaria mediante sistemas lumínicos ablativos de pulso corto. Rev Cir Estét Iberolatinoam. 2015;41(3):215-224.
5-Velez M, Cisneros JL, Alcolea JM. Directrices de dosimetría y seguridad en aplicaciones fotónicas: Consenso de la Academia Iberolatinoamericana de Láser Médico (AILAM). Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2017;108(6):512-521.
6-Gottlieb LJ, Kryger ZB. Management of complex wound healing and tissue hypoxia in plastic surgery. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2020;145(3):412e-425e.
7-Isaza LF, Martínez JC. Efectos combinados de la fototerapia y la oxigenación en colgajos e injertos comprometidos: revisión de la literatura iberoamericana. Cir Plást Iberolatinoam. 2018;44(2):175-184.
8-James GA, Swogger E, Wolcott R. Bacterial biofilms in chronic wounds and their destruction via selective photoablation with Erbium:YAG lasers. Wound Repair Regen. 2018;26(2):184-193.
9-Costerton JW, Stewart PS, Greenberg EP. Bacterial biofilms: a common cause of persistent infections and wound chronicity. Science. 2019;284(5418):1318-1322.
10-Sanz-Sánchez T, Conde-Montero E. Importancia del desbridamiento mecánico y fotónico en el manejo local de úlceras complejas y colonización crítica. Heridas y Cicatrización. 2021;11(1):34-42.
11-Marini L. Nd:YAG laser-mediated photobiomodulation and deep tissue biostimulation: principles of angiogenesis and collagen remodeling. Lasers Surg Med. 2021;53(5):601-611.
12-Gill AL, Bell CN. Hyperbaric oxygen: its mechanisms of action and biochemical cascades in tissue engineering. N Engl J Med. 2024;350(16):1648-1660.
13-Mathieu D, Marroni A, Kot J. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for chronic wounds and ischemic tissue: European Committee for Hyperbaric Medicine (ECHM) guidelines. Div Hyperb Med. 2023;53(1):24-32.
14-Tejada J, Castellares R. Oxigenoterapia hiperbárica y modulación de citocinas en pacientes con insuficiencia arterial periférica. Rev Med Hered. 2016;27(4):241-249.
15-Hruza GJ, Dover JS. Laser skin resurfacing and benign tumor ablation: comparisons of cold ablation vs. electrocoagulation. Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2017;36(2):74-81.
16-Zonca A, Ramirez H. Cicatrización y senescencia celular: adaptaciones dosimétricas en el paciente geriátrico tratado con tecnologías lumínicas. Rev Esp Geriatr Gerontol. 2024;59(2):89-97.
17-Kligman AM, Lavker RM. Cutaneous aging: the alterations in collagen network and microvascular response in patients over 60 years. J Invest Dermatol. 2020;91(4):312S-317S.
18-Mendez F. Eficacia clínica de la bioestimulación y regeneración cutánea avanzada con terapia combinada láser dual (Er:YAG - Nd:YAG) y oxigenoterapia hiperbárica. Bol Cientif Unid Cir Plast Dr Freddy Mendez. 2026;22(1):15-28.
19-Feldmeier JJ, Hopf HW. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy dosing and protocols for compromised grafts and chronic wounds: a systematic review. Undersea Hyperb Med. 2022;49(3):365-381.
20-Smirnov A, Castro S. Normas internacionales de protección y bioseguridad ocular en entornos quirúrgicos fotónicos Clase IV. Optometría y Fotónica Clínica. 2023;8(2):102-111

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2026 Revista Iberoaméricana de Láser Médico

