Twenty women with a clinical diagnosis of melasma were treated with liquiritin cream on one side of the face and with a vehicle cream on the other side twice daily for 4 weeks. Patients were advised to avoid sun exposure and/or used topical sunscreen during the entire period of treatment. Inclusion criteria included an age range from 18 to 40 years and bilateral and symmetrical idiopathic epidermal melasma. Exclusion criteria included patients with dermal melasma (differentiated by Wood's light), melasma with pregnancy, and patients currently receiving hormone replacement therapy. Melasma pigmentary intensity was rated on a five-point scale in relation to the patient's normal facial skin (1, no difference; 2, slightly more pigmented; 3, moderately more pigmented; 4, markedly more pigmented; and 5, intensely more pigmented). The size of the lesions was measured directly using a millimeter grid scale. Ratings and measurements were made prior to treatment and at each of the follow-up visits (after 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 weeks). Clinical evaluation was performed at week 4; the overall response was rated as excellent, good, fair, or poor. Color photographs were taken at the start and at week 4 of the study. Side-effects were observed and treated.

Seventy patients (50 with melasma, 10 with freckles, and 10 with post‐inflammatory hyperpigmentation) were admitted to this trial. Treatment in the form of 4% hydroquinone (HQ) was applied topically twice daily for a maximum of 12 weeks. Patients were advised to avoid sun exposure and/or to use topical sunscreen during the entire period of treatment. All patients were examined at week 0 and at weeks 4, 8, and 12 of therapy. At each visit, the lesion size was determined and the pigmentary intensity of melasma, freckles, and the area of post‐inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) relative to a non‐affected area of skin was rated on a four‐point scale: 1, no difference; 2, mild pigmentation; 3, moderate pigmentation; 4, severe pigmentation. At the last visit, the overall response was rated as excellent, good, fair, or poor.

This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of oral methotrexate (MTX) and oral mini‐pulse (OMP) dexamethasone alone and in combination in the treatment of vitiligo. A total of 42 patients with vitiligo were included in the study. The patients were treated for three months and randomly assigned into three groups including 14 patients each: group A received oral MTX, group B received OMP dexamethasone, and group C received a combination of both. Follow‐up was performed using digital photographs, Vitiligo European Task Force score, and dermoscopy. Disease extension significantly decreased in group C compared with that in groups A (P < .001) and B (P < .05). The frequency of intralesional pigmentation significantly increased (P < .05) in groups A and C and decreased (P < .05) in group B posttreatment noted using a dermoscope. Moreover, the frequency of micro‐Koebner's phenomenon and starburst pattern significantly decreased (P < .05) in groups B and C and that of tapioca sago in group C only posttreatment.

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