Sepaskhah M, Karimi F, Bagheri Z, Kasraee B. Comparison of the efficacy of cysteamine 5% cream and hydroquinone 4%/ascorbic acid 3% combination cream in the treatment of epidermal melasma.
J Cosmet Dermatol 2022;
21:2871-2878. [PMID:
35510765 DOI:
10.1111/jocd.15048]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Few safe and effective treatments are available for melasma. Cysteamine, a non-melanocytotoxic molecule is a safer alternative to hydroquinone and usable for the long-term use.
AIM
To evaluate the effect of cysteamine 5% cream in the treatment of melasma METHODS: Sixty-five of 80 patients completed this single-blind, randomized, controlled trial. The patients received cysteamine 5% or hydroquinone 4%/ascorbic acid 3% (HC) cream. The therapeutic response was evaluated by modified MASI (mMASI) and melanin index (SkinColorCatch) after 2 and 4 months of treatment. Effect of treatment on the quality of life was also assessed.
RESULTS
The decrease for mMASI score was from 6.69±2.96 to 4.47±2.16 in cysteamine group and from 6.26±3.25 to 3.87±2.00 in HC group after 4 months (p values<0.001). The melanin index decreased from 37.72±10.17 to 31.47±11.90 in the cysteamine group and from 36.37±10.80 to 23.16±8.83 in HC group after 4 months (p-value=0.003 and <0.001, respectively). The difference between mMASI score at baseline and month 4 was not significant between both groups (p-value>0.05).The difference between melanin index at baseline and month 4 was significantly more pronounced in HC group (p-value=0.002). Quality of life improved in both groups (p-value<0.05), but was not significantly different between groups (p-value>0.05).
CONCLUSION
Cysteamine was confirmed to be an effective treatment for melasma, with equivalent results to HC in reducing mMASI score and improving quality of life, despite lesser melanin index reduction observed. Cysteamine and HC efficacy was confirmed in patients recalcitrant to previous treatments, by a significant reduction of mMASI and melanin index.
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