Efficacy of Intense Pulsed Light Treatment in Melasma

Melasma is a challenging pigmentation disorder for both the patient and the physician, particularly due to its frequent recurrences and resistance to standard therapies. Light and laser-based treatments are generally preferred when the condition is resistant to topical treatments. Intense pulsed light (IPL) is a light therapy that is both effective for epidermal and dermal melasma as well as vascular components, due to its broad range of energy. Compared to lasers and other energy-based devices, IPL offers broader wavelength coverage, deeper penetration, and the capacity to treat larger surface areas with reduced risk of collateral tissue damage. In this review, we will discuss about IPL mechanism in melasma and studies in the literature about IPL efficacy in melasma including its use as monotherapy and in combination with other modalities. While IPL monotherapy shows moderate improvement, the literature predominantly consists of combination therapy studies, limiting the ability to isolate IPL's direct effectiveness. Future prospective studies with standardized protocols and extended follow-up are needed to define IPL's optimal role in the management of melasma.