Effectiveness of 3% arbutin cream in the treatment of epidermal melasma

Journal Title: Journal of Fatima Jinnah Medical University Lahore - Year 2018, Vol 12, Issue 1

Abstract

Background: Melasma is a common acquired, circumscribed hypermelanosis of sun-exposed areas. Multiple treatment options are available for melasma but they require a long time to yield effective results. Arbutin has shown promising results in the treatment of melasma. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of 3% arbutin cream in the treatment of epidermal melasma. Patients and Methods: It was an interventional study conducted at the Department of Dermatology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore from 1st September, 2011 to 29th February, 2012. After approval from the Hospital Ethical Committee a total of 120 patients with epidermal melasma (diagnosed on Wood’s Lamp Examination), were enrolled in the study. All the patients were advised to apply 3% arbutin cream twice daily for 12 weeks. They were advised to do follow up visits every 2 weeks with a final visit 2 week after completion of treatment. Melasma Area Severity Index (MASI)1score was calculated at the baseline and 2 weeks after completion of treatment period. Efficacy was measured by the decrease in MASI score (>50%). All the information was collected on a specially designed proforma. Photographs were taken at the start and end of study period. Results: There were 7 (5.8%) male patients and 113 (94.2%) female patients in the study. The male to female ratio was 1:16.4. The mean age of patients was 33.93±6.1. In this study, 65 patients (54.16%) showed improvement in terms of >50% reduction in MASI score at 2 weeks follow up visit after the completion of treatment. Conclusion: Use of arbutin 3% cream is an effective treatment modality in patients of epidermal melasma.

Authors and Affiliations

Rabia Hayat, Tariq Rashid, Atif Shehzad, Muhammad Nadeem

Keywords

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  • EP ID EP356863
  • DOI -
  • Views 129
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How To Cite

Rabia Hayat, Tariq Rashid, Atif Shehzad, Muhammad Nadeem (2018). Effectiveness of 3% arbutin cream in the treatment of epidermal melasma. Journal of Fatima Jinnah Medical University Lahore, 12(1), 6-8. https://europub.co.uk/articles/-A-356863