Comparison of therapeutic effects of conventional and liposomal form of 4% topical hydroquinone in patients with melasma.

BACKGROUND: Melasma is a common acquired hyperpigmentation disorder observed mainly in young women. Hydroquinone is the basic treatment that its effect alone and in combination with other medications has been proven. Liposomes are microscopic vesicles in which water and lipid-soluble medications can be introduced to enhance their efficacy and specificity. The aim of this study was to compare therapeutic effects of topical liposomal hydroquinone with its conventional form on melasma.

METHODS: This double-blind randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 20 women. Participants were asked to apply a certain amount of topical liposomal hydroquinone on one side of the face and conventional hydroquinone on the other side for three months. Skin pigmentation severity was measured using Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) at each visit, separately for each side of the face every month until one month after the last treatment, the data were recorded in a questionnaire and were analyzed by SPSS 16 software, paired sample t test, and repeated measurement ANOVA.

RESULTS: MASI score in both case and control groups significantly reduced (P < 0.001) but no significant difference between the case and control groups was observed at any time interval (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: This study shows that liposomal hydroquinone has a significant therapeutic effect on melasma, but we did not observe any superiority in comparison with the conventional method. Therefore, it can be considered in the treatment protocol of this disease.