Evaluation of carboxytherapy and platelet-rich plasma in treatment of periorbital hyperpigmentation: A comparative clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Management of periorbital hyperpigmentation (POH) is still a therapeutic challenge. Although different therapeutic modalities are available, the outcomes of most of them are unsatisfactory.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate and compare the efficacy and safety of two new modalities in the treatment of POH; the platelet rich plasma (PRP) and the carboxytherapy.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study included 30 patients with POH. Every patient was subjected to seven intradermal injections of PRP on the left periorbital area with 2 week intervals between sessions and carboxytherapy on the right area with 1 week interval apart. Assessments were done by investigators' assessment, visual analogue scale by both patients and doctors, and patients' satisfaction. Side effects were reported.

RESULTS: All patients completed the sessions in the carboxy-treated side. In the PRP-treated side, 10 patients refused to complete all sessions because of intolerable side effects. Significant improvement in POH was achieved in both sides (P ≤ .0001). The improvement was comparable with no statistically significant difference between both modalities. Side effects in the carboxy treated side were mild and well tolerated by all patients while they were relatively severe, and persisted for days after sessions in the PRP-treated side.

CONCLUSIONS: Both PRP and carboxytherapy are relatively effective and their efficacy is comparable in treatment of POH. Carboxtherapy is simple and slightly more effective modality and well tolerated than PRP. We believe that both modalities are promising but not the ideal solutions of the POH problem which is caused by multifactorial etiology.