<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><bold>Introduction.</bold> Melasma is a common skin pigmentation disorder affecting a patient’s life psychologically and socially. Topical medications or lasers can have temporary and limited therapeutic effects on melasma. <bold>Material and Methods.</bold> This study is a prospective clinical trial comparing therapeutic effects of oral Tranexamic acid (TXA) and topical Hydroquinone (HQ) cream. A total number of 69 patients were examined. During the study, 10 patients failed to appear for the follow-up and 59 of them completed the trial. The patients were also divided randomly into two groups. Group A received TXA capsule 250 mg every 12 hours and group B received 4% topical HQ cream day and night. The patients from both groups were treated for 3 months. Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) scores were then calculated at the baseline, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks into the treatment and 3 months after the end of intervention. <bold>Results</bold>. MASI baseline, 4 weeks,12 weeks, and 24 weeks in TXA group were 21.66, 13.69, 9.10, 9.24; respectively. Reduction of MASI between baseline and 4 weeks was statistically significant. Such a decreasing trend in MASI scores between baseline and 12 weeks was also reported as statistically significant (p=0.001). In the HQ group, MASI baseline,4 weeks, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks were 21.46, 13.57, 10.93, 11.20; respectively. Reduction of MASI scores between baseline and 4 weeks was statistically significant. Moreover, a decline in MASI scores was observed between baseline and 12 weeks that was statistically significant (p=0.001). Considering both groups MASI scores were reduced but the difference between two study groups was not statistically significant (p=0.98). <bold>Conclusion.</bold> The efficacy of TXA and HQ was the same and both could significantly reduce MASI scores.</p></abstract>

Introduction. Melasma is a common skin pigmentation disorder affecting a patient’s life psychologically and socially. Topical medications or lasers can have temporary and limited therapeutic effects on melasma. Material and Methods. This study is a prospective clinical trial comparing therapeutic effects of oral Tranexamic acid (TXA) and topical Hydroquinone (HQ) cream. A total number of 69 patients were examined. During the study, 10 patients failed to appear for the follow-up and 59 of them completed the trial. The patients were also divided randomly into two groups. Group A received TXA capsule 250 mg every 12 hours and group B received 4% topical HQ cream day and night. The patients from both groups were treated for 3 months. Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) scores were then calculated at the baseline, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks into the treatment and 3 months after the end of intervention. Results. MASI baseline, 4 weeks,12 weeks, and 24 weeks in TXA group were 21.66, 13.69, 9.10, 9.24; respectively. Reduction of MASI between baseline and 4 weeks was statistically significant. Such a decreasing trend in MASI scores between baseline and 12 weeks was also reported as statistically significant (p=0.001). In the HQ group, MASI baseline,4 weeks, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks were 21.46, 13.57, 10.93, 11.20; respectively. Reduction of MASI scores between baseline and 4 weeks was statistically significant. Moreover, a decline in MASI scores was observed between baseline and 12 weeks that was statistically significant (p=0.001). Considering both groups MASI scores were reduced but the difference between two study groups was not statistically significant (p=0.98). Conclusion. The efficacy of TXA and HQ was the same and both could significantly reduce MASI scores.

Comparing Efficacy and Safety of Oral Tranexamic Acid and 4% Topical Hydroquinone Cream in Melasma Treatment: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial and Review of Literature

Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences

Ahvaz Jundishapur University Of Medical Sciences

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Serbian Journal of Dermatology and Venereology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Introduction. Melasma is a common skin pigmentation disorder affecting a patient’s life psychologically and socially. Topical medications or lasers can have...

Comparing Efficacy and Safety of Oral Tranexamic Acid and 4% Topical Hydroquinone Cream in Melasma Treatment: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial and Review of Literature

Published Online: Apr 24, 2020

Page range: 119 - 128

Received: Dec 12, 2019

Accepted: Dec 17, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjdv-2019-0017

Keywords
Melanosis, Tranexamic Acid, Dermatologic Agents, Hydroquinones, Administration, Topical, Treatment Outcome

© 2019 Reza Yaghoobi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Comparing Efficacy and Safety of Oral Tranexamic Acid and 4% Topical Hydroquinone Cream in Melasma Treatment: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial and Review of Literature

Published Online: Apr 24, 2020

Page range: 119 - 128

Received: Dec 12, 2019

Accepted: Dec 17, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjdv-2019-0017

KeywordsMelanosis, Tranexamic Acid, Dermatologic Agents, Hydroquinones, Administration, Topical, Treatment Outcome

© 2019 Reza Yaghoobi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
Melanosis, Tranexamic Acid, Dermatologic Agents, Hydroquinones, Administration, Topical, Treatment Outcome