The treatment of pigmentary skin disorder.

High intensity focused ultrasound as a potential new modality for the treatment of pigmentary skin disorder.

 

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE:

The clinical skin tightening benefits of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) have been established, but its mechanism of action in pigmented skin disorders remains unknown. We microscopically and histopathologically investigated dermatological changes after HIFU at different exposure doses in a U VB-induced guinea pig model of hyper pigmentation.

METHODS:

We applied HIFU irradiation at 0.1 and 0.2 J/cm(2) to U VB-induced spotty hyper pigmentation in guinea pig skin. The therapeutic effects of HIFU were judged based on gross appearance using photography, dermoscopy, and chromametry during a period of 3 weeks after HIFU irradiation. Histological assessments were performed using Fontana-Masson staining 1 day before and 3 weeks after HIFU irradiation.

RESULTS:

Macroscopically, UVB-induced hyperpigmentation was significantly reduced 2 weeks after HIFU with 0.2 J/cm(2) , and 3 weeks after HIFU with 0.1 J/cm(2) . Histopathologically, the heavy deposition of melanin in the epidermis induced by UVB exposure was reduced 3 weeks after HIFU irradiation.

CONCLUSION:

We confirmed that HIFU has a positive effect on UVB-induced hyperpigmentation as well as mechanical destructive activity. We suggest that HIFU may be useful as an alternative modality for human patients suffering from skin pigmentary conditions.