title: A randomized controlled study to evaluate the depigmenting activity of L-ascorbic acid plus phytic acid-serum vs. placebo on solar lentigines.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Solar lentigines (SL) are benign signs of sun damage that many people find distressing.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy and safety of L-ascorbic acid 10% + phytic acid 2% for treating SL.
  
  
  METHODS
  A double-blind, vehicle-controlled trial in 30 healthy subjects with ≥2 SL. Subjects were randomly assigned to apply product to one side of the body and vehicle to the other twice daily for 3 months with follow-up of 2 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pigmentation index for product-treated SL was reduced (maximum reduction 1.3 at 3 months [M3]), while that for vehicle-treated lesions remained stable. These differences were statistically significant for M1-M4 (P ≤ 0.003). Dermoscopy detected significant intergroup differences in pigmentation at M5 (P=0.011). Colorimetry results indicated a statistically significant improvement in brightness (L*) between study drug and vehicle at M5. Fifteen subjects experienced 23 adverse events; six (mostly halo depigmentation) were judged possibly related to the study drug. There were six instances of mild-to-moderate intolerance in the study drug group and five in the vehicle-treated group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Study treatment was significantly more efficacious than vehicle in many respects and was well tolerated. Future, larger studies are needed to confirm these results and to compare the product with gold standard treatments.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Archet 2, 151 route St Antoine de Ginestière, Nice Cedex 3, France.
authors.forename: Abdallah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khemis
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cabou
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dubois
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ortonne
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003124:Colorimetry; D046169:Dermoscopy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007911:Lentigo / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010833:Phytic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004338:Drug Combinations; D010833:Phytic Acid; D001205:Ascorbic Acid