American Journal of Dermatology and Venereology 2014, 3(3): 51-56 DOI: 10.5923/j.ajdv.20140303.01 An Investigation into the Effectiveness of Light Emitting Diodes on Treating Melasma on Skin Type VI Nomakhosi Mpofana 1,* , Cindy Ramhurry 2 1 Department of Wellness, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa ²Department of Applied Communicative Skills, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, 2000, South Africa Abstract The literature highlights the higher prevalence of the condition of Melasma in women with Fitzpatrick skin type IV-VI and the risks and challenges involved in its treatment [1, 2, 3]. In this case study, we collected data from 6 confirmed cases of Melasma with Fitzpatrick skin type VI via record cards and visia analyses to investigate the effectiveness of Light Emitting Diodes (LED 633nm and 830nm) as a relatively risk free form of treatment. We specifically found that the LED (633nm and 830nm) generally improved skin texture, evened out skin tone, reduced the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, refined enlarged pores and reduced porphyrins in the skin. In conclusion, we found evidence that LED (633nm and 830nm) may be effective in treating melasma in skin type VI. Keywords Melasma, Skin type VI, LED, Treatment, Prevalence 1. Introduction Recent literature has shown an alarming increase in the occurrence of Melasma- an acquired, chronic, recurrent darkening of the skin on the face [4, 5]. The literature highlights the higher prevalence of this condition in women with Fitzpatrick skin type IV-VI and the risks involved in its treatment [1, 2, 3]. Writers contend that the wide spectrum of melanin absorption (250-1200nm) in darker skin types causes conditions such as post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, blistering, scabbing and in some cases, skin atrophy [6, 7]. Due to its disfiguring nature, melasma has been documented as a condition resulting in significant negative psychological and emotional impact [8]. Recent studies indicate a decrease in social functioning, decreased productivity at work and the lowering of self-esteem [9]. The literature highlights the challenge in treating melasma in skin type VI. Most documented attempts have primarily relied on the use of invasive therapy, drugs and creams: these include ablative and non-ablative lasers, micro- dermabrasion, mesotherapy and topical de-pigmenting agents such as Hydroquinone, Kojic acid, Arbutin, Retinoids, Niacinamide, Mequinol, Kligman’s formula, Alpha Hydroxy, Beta Hydroxy and Fruit Acids [10]. These treatment modalities have been found to produce suboptimal results and undesirable side effects when treating dark skins phototypes [11, 12]. In the face of the challenges involved in treating melasma * Corresponding author: mpofanan@cput.ac.za (Nomakhosi Mpofana) Published online at http://journal.sapub.org/ajdv Copyright © 2014 Scientific & Academic Publishing. All Rights Reserved via invasive means, therapists have recently directed their energies towards exploring non-invasive channels of treatment in Fitzpatrick skin type IV-VI [13, 1]. Goldman [14] has gained the attention of skin therapists by offering a treatment that is arguably safe, user-friendly and available without a doctor’s prescription. Goldman [14] encourages the use of light emitting diodes in patients with skin type IV-VI. The literature shows evidence of LED as a more recent development which delivers narrow band, spectrally pure light of a specific intensity wavelength and dose to achieve clinically proven results [7]. LED is indicated to be a non-thermal, non-coherent and quasi-monochromatic light that has no down time on account of being a non-laser device [15, 16]. LED was initially used to treat actinic keratosis and superficial basal cell carcinomas, and has more recently been used to treat visible photo ageing induced by excessive sun exposure [3]. LED is seen as favourable for skin rejuvenation because it minimises the risk of the side-effects that ablative lasers present: LED systems are non–lasers, emitting no heat which avoids any thermal effect on the skin [17]. In vitro studies evaluating the effect of LED on melasma have shown success: results have indicated that LED (830nm, 850nm, 940nm) inhibits the production of Tyrosinase in primary cultured melanocytes [18]. Other studies have found LED to be effective in the improvement of sun damage, (photorejuvenation) and pre-mature aging [14, 19, 17]. Although LED has shown much promise in theory, there is still a degree of vagueness and uncertainty regarding its use as a treatment option for melasma in skin type VI [6, 20, 21, 22]. On an empirical level, much research energy has been channelled into the use of LED as treatment option. However minimal research has been done to explore its response to