The The effectiveness of topical cysteamine in treating melasma: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Keywords:
Melasma, Cysteamine, HydroquinoneAbstract
Background: Melasma is a hyperpigmentation disorder in the form of a light brown to blackish macula with irregular edges that are often exposed to sunlight, especially the face. The causes of melasma are still not widely understood and the treatment remains a challenge. Topical cysteamine recently has been studied as a promising depigmenting agent in treating melasma. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of cysteamine cream in treating melasma towards mainstay therapy, hydroquinone (HQ). Methods: Online searching on Pubmed-MEDLINE, Scopus, EBSCOhost, ProQuest, and Cochrane Library databases found 3 relevant articles included in this systematic review and meta-analysis (n = 128). The outcome measured was mMASI and MELASQoL scores. Results: The meta-analysis showed a reduction in mMASI score by week 8 (SMD=0.33(95% CI -0.02 - 0.68), p=0.92, I²=0%) and week 16 (SMD=0.13(95% CI -0.02 - 0.48), p=0.89, I²=0%) in both cysteamine and control groups. The meta-analysis also demonstrated a reduction in MELASQoL score (SMD=0.23(95% CI -0.16 - 0.62), p=0.16, I²=50%) compared with baseline. Conclusion: Results revealed that both 5% cysteamine and 4% HQ cream had similar favorable efficacy in treating melasma and also increasing melasma patient’s quality of life. Keywords: melasma, cysteamine, hydroquinone, treatmentReferences
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