Platelet-Rich Plasma in Melasma: A Systematic Review
October 2021
in “
Dermatologic Surgery
”
TLDR Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can significantly improve melasma, a skin pigmentation disorder, but may not add benefits when used with certain other treatments.
The systematic review analyzed seven studies on the efficacy and safety of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in treating melasma, a common hyperpigmentation disorder. Most studies showed significant improvement in melasma when using intradermal injections of PRP. Microneedling mediated delivery of PRP also yielded good results. However, one study found no additional benefit of PRP in patients treated with topical tranexamic acid, and another found no benefit of intense pulsed light in patients treated with intradermal PRP. The review concluded that PRP inhibits melanin synthesis through various components acting through several mechanisms, demonstrating a moderate grade of recommendation according to the Oxford Center for Evidence-Based Medicine 2011 standards.
