Introduction: Constitutional infraorbital hyperchromia (commonly called under-eye circles) is a common dermatosis that is difficult to treat. Objective:To evaluate the clinical improvement of constitutional infraorbital pigmentation resulting from the application of a series of five 10% thioglycolic acid gel peeling sessions. Methods: Patients were administered five successive 10% thioglycolic acid gel peel sessions, in 15-day intervals. In the first session, the product was left on for two minutes, with three minutes added in each subsequent session, culminating with 15 minutes of contact in the last session. Fifteen days after the last session, a satisfaction scale ranging from 0 (lack of improvement) to 10 (total improvement) was administered to the patients, to the dermatologist investigating the peelings, and to a blindevaluator medical doctor (a dermatologist that had not had taken part in the treatment sessions). Results: Study subjects (n=10) were females aged 24-50.The average clinical satisfaction presented by the patients, the investigator, and the blind-evaluator were 7.8, 7.6 and 6.8, respectively, with no statistically significant differences among them (p=0.065). Conclusion: The serial application of 10% thioglycolic acid gel peels is a safe, efficient, and costeffective treatment for constitutional infraorbital pigmentation.

Keywords: CHEMEXFOLIATION, EYE, HYPERPIGMENTATION, EYELID DISEASES

Introduction: Melasma is a common hypermelanosis that mainly affects women and has a negative impact on the quality of life. It is a chronic and recurrent condition, and a number of treatments have already been proposed.
Objective: Assessment of quality of life for women with melasma before and after treatment with botanical extracts and hydroquinone.
Methods: A clinical, phase IV, randomized, blinded study was conducted at a clinical research institute. Women (n = 56) aged 18-60, with phototypes I-IV, were randomized into two groups (epidermal or mixed melasma). The Melasma Quality of Life Scale was used to compare the patients'''''''' quality of life before and after the use of Bellis perennis, Glycyrrhiza glabra and Phyllanthus emblica botanical extracts twice a day (Group A), or 2% hydro- quinone used at night (Group B). The Melasma Area and Severity Index was used to assess the treatments'''''''' efficacy.
Results: Appearance, frustration, embarrassment and feeling less attractive were the Melasma Quality of Life Scale variables that had the greatest negative impact on quality of life at the beginning of the study. After 60 days of treatment, there was improvement in all MELASQoL aspects, with no statistical differences between the two groups.
Conclusion: The improvement in melasma patients'''''''' self esteem provided by the use of the botanical extracts matched that of 2% hydroquinone.

Keywords: MELASMA, QUALITY OF LIFE, PHYLLANTHUS EMBLICA