title: Silicone sheet containing all-trans retinoic acid and hydroquinone for the treatment of epidermal melanosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although bleaching treatment using all-trans retinoic acid (RA) and hydroquinone (HQ) improves epidermal melanosis, the application of two medications and the irritant dermatitis induced by RA inconvenience patients. To overcome these problems, we developed a silicone sheet containing RA and HQ.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy of a silicone sheet containing RA and HQ with that of conventional bleaching treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Silicone sheets containing 1% RA and 5% HQ were applied at night during the bleaching phase of 4 weeks, followed by application of sheets containing 5% HQ during the healing phase of 4 weeks. Hemifacial epidermal melanosis, for which the sheets were applied, was compared with a contralateral face which was treated conventionally using RA and HQ. Twenty-four Japanese women who were enrolled in this study and followed up for more than 6 months were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RA/HQ sheets improved epidermal melanosis, as did the conventional bleaching method, but irritant dermatitis occurred less in patients treated using silicone sheets.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RA/HQ sheets, which are easily applied to face skin, can improve epidermal melanosis to the same extent as conventional bleaching.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Kyorin, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Shoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iida
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takushima
authors.forename: Norihiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ohura
authors.forename: Suguru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurita
authors.forename: Kiyonori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Harii
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006873:Hydroquinones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007911:Lentigo / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008548:Melanosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012828:Silicones; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D062327:Skin Lightening Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D006873:Hydroquinones; D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D012828:Silicones; D062327:Skin Lightening Preparations; D014212:Tretinoin; C031927:hydroquinone