ReviewThe Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology2022
Topical Treatments for Melasma and Their Mechanism of Action.
Review in The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 25 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
25 citing papers in PubMed, 45 citations in OpenAlex.
- Clinical study on the effectiveness of laser combined with topical tranexamic acid in the treatment of melasma.Lasers in medical science · 2025Trial
- Amber LED photobiomodulation versus tranexamic acid for the treatment of melasma: randomized controlled double-blind pilot trial.Lasers in medical science · 2025Trial
- Trial
- Evaluation of the Efficacy of a Serum Containing Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid, Vitamin C, and Hydroxy Acid Compared to 4% Hydroquinone in the Management of Melasma.Journal of cosmetic dermatology · 2025Trial
- Efficacy and Safety of Combination Therapy of Microneedling Radiofrequency, In-Office and Home-Based Topical Cysteamine in Refractory Melasma: A Split Face, Vehicle-Control, Randomized Control Trial.Journal of cosmetic dermatology · 2025Trial
- The Efficacy of Topical Cosmetic Containing Alpha-Arbutin 5% and Kojic Acid 2% Compared With Triple Combination Cream for the Treatment of Melasma: A Split-Face, Evaluator-Blinded Randomized Pilot Study.Journal of cosmetic dermatology · 2025Trial
- Kojic Acid as a Natural Hypopigmenting Agent: Biological Activities, Delivery Challenges, and Nanotechnology-Based Strategies.Pharmaceutics · 2026Review
- Decoding Hyperpigmentation from Biological Mechanisms to Actives with Clinically Proven Topical Efficacy: A Narrative Review.Dermatology and therapy · 2026Review
- Innovations in Refractory Melasma: Mechanism-Based Management and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies.Cureus · 2026Review
- Efficacy and Safety of Plasma Radiofrequency Combined With Topical Tranexamic Acid for Early Post-Traumatic Scars With Hyperpigmentation: A Retrospective Study.Journal of cosmetic dermatology · 2026Article
- Egyptian National Consensus on Dermocosmetic Ingredient Selection Across Common Dermatology Scenarios: A RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Study.Dermatology and therapy · 2026Article
- Targeting Melasma: Innovations in Pigment Deposition and Photoaging in Cosmetic Dermatology.Journal of cosmetic dermatology · 2026Review
- Decrypting the Potential of Lipidic Vesicular System for Delivery Enhancement of Tranexamic Acid in Melasma Hyperpigmentation Treatment.Advanced pharmaceutical bulletin · 2025Review
- Fractional carbon dioxide laser assisted delivery of tranexamic acid versus ascorbic acid in the treatment of melasma: a split face comparative study with digital skin analysis.Lasers in medical science · 2025Article
- In Vitro and In Vivo Assessment of an Innovative Peeling System with Azelaic and Tranexamic Acids for Targeted Hyperpigmentation Reduction.Dermatology and therapy · 2025Article
- Clinical Efficacy of CGF Combined With Periodic Supramolecular Salicylic Acid in the Treatment of Chloasma.Journal of cosmetic dermatology · 2025Article
- Treatment of Melasma With Q-Switched Laser in Combination With Tranexamic Acid.Dermatology research and practice · 2025Review
- An Update on New and Existing Treatments for the Management of Melasma.American journal of clinical dermatology · 2024Review
- What is ethosome photothermal therapy?Skin research and technology : official journal of International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin (ISBS) [and] International Society for Digital Imaging of Skin (ISDIS) [and] International Society for Skin Imaging (ISSI) · 2024Article
- Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Objective: We conducted a review of topical agents currently used in melasma, discussing their mechanism of action, efficacy, safety, and tolerability, with an update on newer treatments. Methods: A systematic review from PubMed database was performed, using PRISMA guidelines. The search was limited to English and Spanish studies that were double or single blinded, prospective, controlled or randomized clinical trials, reviews of literature, and meta-analysis studies. Results: 348 studies were analyzed; 80 papers met inclusion criteria. Triple combination (TC) therapy and hydroquinone (HQ) are still the most well-studied agents with strong evidence-based recommendation. TC therapy remains the gold standard of care based on efficacy and patient tolerability. Evidence has shown ascorbic acid, azelaic acid, glycolic acid, kojic acid, salicylic acid, and niacinamide to be effective as adjuvant therapies with minimal side effects. Tranexamic acid (TA) and cysteamine have become recent agents of interest due to their good tolerability, however more trials and studies are warranted. Less evidence exists for other topical agents, such as linoleic acid, mulberry extract oil, rucinol, 2% undecylenoyl phenylalanine, and epidermal growth factors agents. Limitations: Some studies discussed represented a low sample size, and there is an overall lack of recent studies with larger populations and long-term follow up. Conclusions: TC therapy continues to be the gold standard of care. Topical cysteamine and TA are newer options that can be incorporated as adjuvant and maintenance treatments into a patient's regimen. Cysteamine and topical TA have no known severe adverse effects. Evidence comparing other topical adjuvant treatments to HQ, maintains HQ as the gold standard of care.
Indexed as
Identifiers
35642229PMC9122278W4282923749What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.