Efficacy of acupuncture for melasma: a protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis

Review question / Objective: How effective is acupuncture in treating melasma compared to conventional treatment？ Condition being studied: Melasma is a common acquired hyperpigmentation of the skin. The clinical manifestations are light brown or dark brown patches symmetrically distributed on the cheeks, forehead and mandibular with different shades and unclear borders. Melasma particularly affects women during menstruation, especially in thirties and forties Asian women. The incidence of Asian women of childbearing age is as high as 30%. Current treatments for melasma include topical drugs, chemical peeling agents, laser and light treatments, and systemic drugs. Despite the strong demand for treatment, the treatment of melasma is still very challenging, the results are inconsistent, and the recurrence rate is almost constant.