title: Therapeutic effect of topical application of linoleic acid and lincomycin in combination with betamethasone valerate in melasma patients.
abstract: Melasma is an acquired symmetric hypermelanosis characterized by irregular light-to gray-brown macules and patches on sun-exposed areas. Many therapeutic agents are available but are unsatisfactory. Recently, it has been demonstrated that lincomycin (LM) and linoleic acid (LA) can inhibit melanogenesis in vitro. Our purpose was to investigate the clinical efficacy of topical application of LM and LA in combination with betamethasone valerate (BV) in melasma patients. Forty-seven Korean female adults with clinically diagnosed melasma were enrolled in a 6-week, double-blind, randomized clinical trial. Patients were treated with one application of the vehicle (group A), 2% LM mixed with 0.05% BV (group B), or 2% LM mixed with 0.05% BV and 2% LA (group C) on the face every night. Determination of efficacy was based on the Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) score and objective assessment (no effect, mild, moderate, or excellent) at intervals of 2 weeks until the end of the study at 6 weeks. After 6 weeks, in comparison with the pre-treatment MASI score, the average MASI score of group C decreased to 68.9%, compared with 98% in group A (p<0.05) and 85.4% in group B. There was no statistically significant difference between group A and group B. Seven patients (43.7%) in group C revealed more than moderate improvement in objective assessment, compared with none in group A and two patients (12.5%) in group B. There were no significant side effects. Topical application of linoleic acid is considered to be effective in the treatment of melasma patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Kyunghee University, Seoul, Korea. mhlee@khmc.or.kr
authors.forename: Mu-Hyoung
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyun-Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dong-Ju
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Jong-Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Paik
authors.forename: Hong-Yong
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001624:Betamethasone Valerate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008034:Lincomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008548:Melanosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009824:Ointments
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D009824:Ointments; D001624:Betamethasone Valerate; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D008034:Lincomycin