Efficacy of a 2-MNG-Containing Serum and Sunscreen Regimen on Improving Facial Dyschromia in Women with Skin of Color.

objectivePopulations with skin of color remain under-represented in dermatology clinical trials. Here, we first evaluated the efficacy of a serum and sunscreen regimen, containing 2-mercaptonicotinoyl glycine (2-MNG, Melasyl

methodsThis open-label study completed with 60 female participants, aged 25-70 years old, from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds with skin phototypes IV-VI and presenting with mild to moderate hyperpigmentation and skin roughness. After completing a 1-week washout period, all participants used a 2-MNG-containing serum and sunscreen SPF30 regimen for 12 weeks. Evaluations included clinical assessments, quality of life questionnaires, plus imaging at several time points.

resultsAfter 2 weeks of treatment, dermatological assessments showed significant improvement in skin brightness and radiance in all participants. At Week 4, we observed significant reduction in dyschromia and hyperpigmentation. Expert grading and clinical imaging also demonstrated significant improvement in skin smoothness and pores appearances. By Week 12, all participants perceived a significant improvement in quality of life: from feeling less unattractive to decreasing the use of camouflage to cover up skin concerns. Lastly, skincare regimen was overall well tolerated by all participants. LIMITATIONS: This study evaluated the 2-MNG containing skincare regimen efficacy and did not specifically address the effectiveness of individual ingredients, nor include a comparison to a gold standard treatment.

conclusionOverall, our results demonstrate that a 2-MNG-containing serum and sunscreen SPF30 regimen effectively reduces the appearance of facial dyschromia, while improving skin texture and quality of life among women with skin of color.