Citations 2
Assessing the Safety and Efficacy of Picosecond Alexandrite Lasers in the Management of Melasma: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Randomised Control Trials
Chua, Kangjie R. , Vankayalapati, Dilip K , Shami, M. Zaid, Antoniou, Valeria, Nordahl, Emma J. B., Abdul‐Aziz, Kowthar, Bayan, Laith, Lee, Sum‐Yu C., Nakanishi, Hayato, Than, Christian A., Lim, Davin , Than, Christian A. , Than, Christian A , Antoniou, Valeria , Nordahl, Emma J. B.
Australasian Journal of Dermatology | January 27, 2026 | Volume: 67 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 140-150
ABSTRACT Melasma is a chronic hyperpigmentation disorder that disproportionately affects women and individuals with darker skin types, leading to a significant psychosocial burden. This meta‐analysis aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the 755‐nm picosecond alexandrite laser (PSAL) compared with conventional therapies in the management of melasma. PubMed, Ovid Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were searched from inception to April 10, 2025, in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) assessing PSAL versus control comparators in adults with melasma and reporting Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) or Modified MASI outcomes were included. The review was registered prospectively on PROSPERO (CRD420251022381). Risk of bias was assessed using ROB2. Pooled effect sizes were calculated using a random‐effects model. Five RCTs ( n = 139 patients) were included. Change in MASI favoured triple combination cream (TCC) over PSAL therapy (MD = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.11, 2.52, I 2 = 0%). Post‐inflammatory hyperpigmentation was more common in the PSAL group compared to topical creams (OR = 6.86, 95% CI: 1.47, 32.07, I 2 = 0%) but had no difference with the Q ‐switched lasers (OR = 4.09, 95% CI: 0.62, 26.97, I 2 = 0%). There was no incidence of hypopigmentation or infection reported. PSAL appears inferior to the TCC in reducing MASI scores. Overall certainty is low due to small, heterogenous trials. Low rates of irreversible adverse events with PSAL may support trials in refractory cases, but long‐term RCTs with larger sample sizes are required to evaluate durability and recurrence outcomes.
Healing Rates and Dressing Frequency of Silver Foam Dressings in Paediatric Burns: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis
Yap, Nathanael , Vankayalapati, Dilip K , Lee, Sum-Yu Christina , Sulaiman, Hafsa Omer, Sato, Alma , Shami, Michel , Antoniou, Valeria , Burns, James W F , Nakanishi, Hayato, Than, Christian A. , Southwick, Graeme, Yap, Nathanael Q E , Lee, Sum-Yu C , Vankayalapati, Dilip K , Than, Christian A , Sulaiman, Hafsa Omer, Shami, M Zaid
European Burn Journal | January 27, 2025 | Volume: 6 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 3
Silver foam dressings have been extensively used in the management of burn injuries; however, its application in children requires elucidation. A literature search was conducted from database inception to October 2023. Eligible studies reported paediatrics patients under 21 years of age receiving silver dressings for burns or scalds. This review was registered prospectively with PROSPERO (CRD42023470239). 18 studies met the inclusion criteria with a total of 701 patients. The pooled mean time to re-epithelisation (TTRE) was 12.9 days (95% CI: 11.2, 14.6, I2 = 94%). The pooled mean duration of hospitalisation was 9.8 days (95% CI: 3.9, 15.7; I2 = 100%). Mean number of total dressing changes per patient was 3.6 (95% CI: 2.2, 4.9; I2 = 99%). There were a total of 98 complications, including 30 (30.6%) infections, 29 (29.6%) surgical requirements, 14 (14.3%) hypertrophic scarring, 17 (17.3%) escalations of care, 5 (5.1%) burn depth progression, and 3 (3.1%) others. Silver foam dressings appear as a safe and effective approach in terms of healing rate and dressing change frequency for selected paediatric patients with burn injuries. Despite the promising results, further comparative studies are required to evaluate the selection criteria and long-term effect of silver foam dressing.