Successful Treatment of Minocycline-Induced Facial Hyperpigmentation with a Combination of Chemical Peels and Intense Pulsed Light

Yuan Li,1,2 Xiaole Zhen,1 Xiaojuan Yao,1 Jiejie Lu1 1Dermatology Department, the Fifth People’s Hospital of Hainan Province, Haikou, Hainan, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Dermatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jiejie Lu, Dermatology Department, the Fifth People’s Hospital of Hainan Province, No. 8 Longhua Road, Longhua District, Haikou, Hainan, 570100, People’s Republic of China, Email lujiejie677@163.comAbstract: Minocycline is a tetracycline derivative antibiotic commonly used to treat acne, rosacea, and other inflammatory skin conditions. Taking minocycline risks inducing skin pigmentation. If minocycline-induced hyperpigmentation is not treated, it may take months to years for the symptoms to subside after discontinuation of the drug, or the hyperpigmentation may never disappear completely, which can lead to cosmetic anxiety and affect people’s quality of life. Previous treatment options for hyperpigmentation were mainly q-switched nd: YAG, ruby, and alexandrite lasers. This article reports a case of facial hyperpigmentation caused by minocycline using a combination of chemical peel and intense pulsed light in a patient with eosinophilic cellulitis (Wells syndrome) who was taking oral minocycline. This case suggests combining chemical peel and intense pulsed light is an effective treatment option for minocycline-induced hyperpigmentation.Keywords: minocycline, pigmentation, chemical peel, intense pulsed light