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Comparison of carboxy therapy and fractional Q-switched ND:YAG laser on periorbital dark circles treatment: a clinical trial

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Abstract

Treatment of the periorbital dark circles (PDCs) is a current challenge, with most treatment methods failing to yield promising results. The effectiveness of two common methods for periorbital dark circle treatment was compared in 28 patients with PDC. The patients were randomly divided into two groups of equal numbers: the first group received carboxy therapy, and the second group fractional 10,64 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. In the carboxy therapy group, the treatment was performed six times, with 1-week intervals between sessions. In the group treated by Nd:YAG laser, the treatment was conducted in four sessions, with 1-month intervals between sessions. The results were evaluated through biometric evaluation, scoring on the visual analog scale (VAS) by both physicians and patients, and patients’ satisfaction. Side effects of the treatments were also evaluated. The results showed that both carboxy therapy and Nd:YAG laser are effective in the treatment of periorbital dark circles, but carboxy therapy is significantly more effective. An increase in the skin lightness and a decrease in the melanin content of the periorbital skin was observed in the group receiving carboxy therapy, and these changes were more pronounced in this group compared to the group of Nd:YAG laser. In addition, side effects, such as erythema and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, were less in carboxy therapy than in Nd:YAG laser. Furthermore, the procedure was less expensive and easier to perform compared to Nd:YAG laser. Carboxy therapy is significantly more effective than Nd:YAG laser in PDC treatment.

Trial registration: IRCT20080901001159N24

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Acknowledgements

We appreciatively acknowledge the colleagues and staffs in Jordan Dermatology and Hair Transplantation Center, Tehran, Iran, and Stem Cell Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Skin and Stem Cell Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Mohammad Ali Nilforoushzadeh, Maryam Heidari-Kharaji, Shiva Alavi, Sara Zolghadr, Mona Mahmoudbeyk & Nahid Nikkhah

  2. Jordan Dermatology and Hair Transplantation Center, Tehran, Iran

    Mohammad Ali Nilforoushzadeh, Maryam Heidari-Kharaji, Sara Zolghadr & Nahid Nikkhah

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  1. Mohammad Ali Nilforoushzadeh
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  2. Maryam Heidari-Kharaji
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  3. Shiva Alavi
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  4. Sara Zolghadr
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  5. Mona Mahmoudbeyk
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  6. Nahid Nikkhah
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nahid Nikkhah.

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Statement on ethics

Informed consent was obtained from all the patients. Standard demographic information of the patients was acquired and recorded in special questionnaires. All patients were provided with a complete description of the study design, purpose, and probable outcomes. All the patients were checked before and 3 months after the last session of treatment.

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Nilforoushzadeh, M.A., Heidari-Kharaji, M., Alavi, S. et al. Comparison of carboxy therapy and fractional Q-switched ND:YAG laser on periorbital dark circles treatment: a clinical trial. Lasers Med Sci 36, 1927–1934 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-021-03274-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-021-03274-5

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