|
| Interventions |
| Study | Study design | Sample size | Age (years) | Duration (years) | Experiment group (E) | Control group (C) | Adverse events | Dropout (reason) |
|
| Chen et al. 2016 | Randomized, controlled trial | 96 (48E, 48C) | 19–43 E: 32.6 ± 6.4; C: 31.8 ± 6.9 | E: 2.6 ± 1.4; C: 2.8 ± 1.5 | Danggui Shaoyao powder, twice-daily + ultrasonic therapy with L-vitamin C, once-weekly for 12 weeks | Ultrasonic therapy with L-vitamin C, once-weekly for 12 weeks | NR | 0 |
|
| Ji et al. 2013 | Randomized, controlled trial | 100 (50E, 50C) | 28–50 40.33 ± 6.35 | 2–22 13.2 ± 2.1 | Honghua Xiaoyao tablet, three times daily + vitamin C, three times daily, and hydroquinone cream, twice-daily for 12 weeks | Vitamin C, three times daily, and hydroquinone cream, twice-daily for 12 weeks | E: 9 × gastrointestinal reaction, 6 × burning and erythema; C: 9 × burning and erythema | 0 |
|
| Jiang et al. 2019 | Randomized, controlled trial | 90 (45E, 45C) | 29–51 E: 45.52 ± 4.39; C: 45.63 ± 4.42 | NR | Ba Zhen capsule, twice-daily + hydroquinone cream, twice-daily for 12 weeks | Topical hydroquinone cream, twice-daily for 12 weeks | E: 1 × gastrointestinal reaction; C: 1 × pruritus and 2 × erythema | 0 |
|
| Lu et al. 2017 | Randomized, controlled trial | 82 (41E, 41C) | 29–55 E: 42.4 ± 6.5; C: 41.1 ± 7.7 | E: 8.9 ± 2.8; C: 10.0 ± 2.3 | Honghua Xiaoyao granule, three times daily + tranexamic acid tablet, twice-daily for 12 weeks | Tranexamic acid tablet, twice-daily for 12 weeks | E: 7 × gastrointestinal reaction and 3 × menoxenia; C: 8 × gastrointestinal reaction and 7 × menoxenia | 0 |
|
| Luo et al. 2019 | Randomized, controlled trial | 156 (78E, 78C) | 21–45 E: 34.6 ± 2.5; C: 33.7 ± 2.4 | E: 4.2 ± 1.9; C: 5.3 ± 1.7 | Danggui Shaoyao powder, twice-daily + glutathione, three times daily, and vitamin C, three times daily, and vitamin E, once-daily for 12 weeks | Glutathione tablets three times daily, and vitamin C tablets, three times daily, and vitamin E capsules, once-daily for 12 weeks | 0 | 0 |
|
| Wang et al. 2018 | Randomized evaluator-blinded clinical trial | 94 (47E, 47C) | 24–49 E: 36.36 ± 7.43; C: 35.61 ± 6.69 | E: 3.46 ± 2.62; C: 3.52 ± 2.25 | Tiaogan Jianpi Quban powder, twice-daily + vitamin C tablet, three times daily, and vitamin E cream, once-daily for 12 weeks | Vitamin C tablets, three times daily and vitamin E cream, once-daily for 12 weeks | 0 | E: 5 (unknown reasons); C: 6 (unknown reasons) |
|
| Xie et al. 2016 | Randomized, controlled trial | 126 (63E, 63C) | 30–48 E: 37.3 ± 9.1; C: 38.1 ± 8.6 | E: 1.6 ± 0.9; C: 1.7 ± 1.0 | Tiaochong Xiaoban decoction, twice-daily + glutathione, and vitamin C and vitamin E tablets, three times daily, and hydroquinone cream, twice-daily for 12 weeks | Glutathione, vitamin C, and vitamin E tablets, three times daily, and hydroquinone cream, twice-daily for 12 weeks | NR | 0 |
|
| Xu et al. 2019 | Randomized, controlled trial | 102 (52E, 50C) | 29–53 | E: 1–20; C: 1–19 | Honghua Xiaoyao tablets, three times daily + tranexamic acid, twice-daily, and hydroquinone cream, twice-daily 12 weeks | Tranexamic acid, twice-daily, and hydroquinone cream, twice-daily 12 weeks | E: 2 × gastrointestinal reaction and 1 × erythema; C: 1 × gastrointestinal reaction, 2 × menoxenia, and 1 × facial tingling | 0 |
|
| Zhu et al. 2016 | Randomized, controlled trial | 85 (43E, 42C) | 20–50 E: 34.67 ± 4.28; C: 34.81 ± 1.15 | E: 4.2 ± 1.9; C: 5.3 ± 1.8 | Danggui Shaoyao decoction, twice-daily + glutathione tablet, once-daily for 12 weeks | Glutathione tablet, once-daily for 12 weeks | E: 2 × gastrointestinal reaction and 1 × pricking; C: 2 × pricking and 1 × peeling | 0 |
|
| Wang et al. 2019 | Randomized, controlled trial | 84 (42E, 42C) | 23–47 E: 31.54 ± 3.11; C: 30.86 ± 3.25 | E: 4.61 ± 1.19; C: 4.58 ± 1.23 | Jingtian Quban capsule, twice-daily + glutathione tablet, three times daily for 12 weeks | Glutathione tablet, three times daily for 12 weeks | NR | 0 |
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