Dermabrasion is rarely used in pigmentary disorders. One Asian study involving 410 patients with recalcitrant melasma treated with dermabrasion reported 97% clearing. Erythema and PIH was seen following dermabrasion, and partial recurrence of pigmentation can occur following initial clearance of melasma (43).
No clinical trials of combination therapy with dermabrasion and other physical therapies or topical depigmenting agents for melasma or PIH have been performed.