Skin rejuvenation using intense pulsed light: a randomized controlled split-face trial with blinded response evaluation.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate efficacy and adverse effects of intense pulsed light rejuvenation in a homogeneous group of patients. DESIGN Randomized controlled split-face trial. SETTING University dermatology department. PATIENTS Thirty-two female volunteers with Fitzpatrick skin type I through III and class I or II rhytids. INTERVENTIONS Subjects were randomized to 3 intense pulsed light treatments at 1-month intervals or to no treatment of right or left sides of the face. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Primary end points were skin texture and rhytids. Secondary end points were telangiectasia, irregular pigmentation, and adverse effects. Efficacy was evaluated by patient self-assessments and by blinded clinical and photographic evaluations up to 9 months after final treatment. Adverse effects were assessed clinically and by noninvasive skin reflectance measurements. RESULTS Skin texture was significantly improved at all clinical assessments except at the 6-month examination (P<.006). The improvements peaked at 1 month after treatment, at which time 23 (82%) of 28 patients had better appearances of treated vs untreated sides. Most patients obtained mild or moderate improvements, and 16 patients (58%) self-reported mild or moderate efficacy on skin texture. Rhytids were not significantly different on treated vs untreated sides, and 19 patients (68%) reported uncertain or no efficacy on rhytids. Significant improvements of telangiectasia (P<.001) and irregular pigmentation (P<.03) were found at all assessments. Three patients withdrew from the study because of pain related to treatment. CONCLUSIONS Three intense pulsed light treatments improved skin texture, telangiectasia, and irregular pigmentation but had no efficacy on rhytids. Adverse events were minimal, but included scar in 1 patient.