Aesthetics

The Therapeutic Use of Antioxidants for Melasma

By August 25, 2020No Comments

Featured Article

Featured Article

With a well demonstrated impact on quality of life, melasma is a common cause for seeking dermatologic care. There is no universally efficacious therapy, so combination treatment is preferred. Therapies include topical hypopigmenting agents, laser treatment, microneedling, chemical peels, radiofrequency, and oral medications.1 Furthermore, it is critical for patients to avoid exacerbating factors.

Read more

In this review, authors discuss the well-defined role of oxidative stress in melasma and the therapeutic efficacy of various antioxidants for patients suffering from melasma, focusing on studies investigating the role of vitamin C, azelaic acid, cysteamine, glutathione, carotenoids, and numerous other antioxidants in disorders of hyperpigmentation.

Kayla M. Babbush BS, Remy A. Babbush BS, Amor Khachemoune MD FAAD FACMS

 

Melasma is a chronic and acquired skin disorder of hyperpigmentation that presents with symmetric hypermelanosis of sun exposed areas, especially the face. Disease prevalence, ranging from 1 to 50%, varies with gender, ethnicity, skin phenotype, and sun exposure.

The pathogenesis of melasma is incompletely understood, which poses a challenge for disease management. Causative factors include genetics, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, cosmetics, pregnancy, hormonal therapy, phototoxic drugs, and various medications.

Melasma is evaluated by Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) score, modified MASI (mMASI) score, Melasma Quality of Life Scale (MelasQoL), colorimetry, and mexametry.

With a well demonstrated impact on quality of life, melasma is a common cause for seeking dermatologic care. There is no universally efficacious therapy, so combination treatment is preferred. Therapies include topical hypopigmenting agents, laser treatment, microneedling, chemical peels, radiofrequency, and oral medications.1 Furthermore, it is critical for patients to avoid exacerbating factors.

The skin, a protective organ critical in homeostasis, is the site of numerous biochemical processes, including the generation of free radicals, namely reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are necessary for biological signaling processes, but, in excess, ROS can damage biomolecules.3 There is clear evidence of oxidative stress in melasma.

Read Full Article Now
Article Cited in this Post

You May Also Like

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology JDD Article About Refractory Pruritus Secondary to Linear IgA Bullous Dermatosis Treated Successfully With Nemolizumab: A Case Report

Refractory Pruritus Secondary to Linear IgA Bullous Dermatosis Treated Successfully With Nemolizumab: A Case Report

| Case Reports, Featured Articles, Latest News, Medical Derm, The Latest | No Comments
A Single‑Patient Signal That IL‑31 Blockade May Finally Tame The Relentless Itch Of Linear IgA Disease Linear IgA bullous dermatosis can be as much an itch disorder as a blistering…
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology JDD About The Full Spectrum of Dermatology: A Diverse and Inclusive Atlas. The images is of tinea versicolor among different skin tones

Tune In, Turn Up, and Celebrate — Happy National Podcast Day!

| Featured Articles, Featured Podcast, Latest News, The Latest | No Comments
Join JDD Podcast: Ask the Investigators as we celebrate almost a decade of dermatology insight with our trusted host, Dr. Adam Friedman. If you love learning with a smile, National…
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology JDD Article About A Qualitative Assessment of Chatbots for Common Dermatologic

A Qualitative Assessment of Chatbots for Common Dermatologic

| Featured Articles, Latest News, Social and Technology, The Latest | No Comments
Chatbots in the Waiting Room: How Reliable Are They for Dermatology Patients?  Four consumer chatbots (ChatGPT 4o mini, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini Flash 1.5, and Perplexity) were asked about 25…

Leave a Reply