Abstract
Infraorbital dark circles are a common manifestation of periorbital melanosis, which is aesthetically defective and bring a negative impact on life quality. However, there is no acknowledged treatment for infraorbital dark circles. The 1064-nm Q-switched Nd: YAG laser (QSNYL) is commonly utilized to treat hyperpigmentation disorders. Radiofrequency (RF) therapy can improve the transdermal absorption rate of drugs. A prospective clinical trial was conducted to investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of 1064-nm QSNYL combined with RF-imported vitamin C for the treatment of infraorbital dark circles. A questionnaire was used to explore the relevant factors affecting the severity of infraorbital dark circles. A total of 30 patients with pigmented infraorbital dark circles were enrolled in this clinical trial. Each participant received 4 treatments and was followed up for at least 12 months after the last treatment.We focused on the overall change in the appearance of the included participants before and after treatment, by using satisfaction evaluation.In order to reduce evaluation bias, the vivo reflectance confocal microscopy images were taken on days 1 and 120 to detect pigmentation. The questionnaire survey before treatment showed that high-frequency makeup was positively and statistically significant with the severity of infraorbital dark circles (p < 0.01). Both participants and independent evaluators found that the hyperpigmentation in the infraorbital region was significantly reduced after combined treatment with high treatment satisfaction. The density of melanin particles in the infraorbital dark circles region showed a decreased trend. No significant side effects were observed. The 1064-nm QSNYL combined with RF-imported vitamin C is a safe and effective treatment for pigmented infraorbital dark circles by reducing melanin particles.