The treatment of melasma by silymarin cream

Abstract

BackgroundMelasma is an acquired increased pigmentation of the skin characterized by symmetrical and confluent grey-brown patches usually on the areas of the face exposed to the sun. Silymarin strongly prevents photocarcinogenesis, and significantly prevented melanin production. The objectives of this study were the assessment of safety and efficacy of topical Silymain (SM) cream in a double-blind placebo controlled study for treatment of melasma patients.MethodsExperimentally on 24 Albino rabbits were randomly divided into 4 equal groups. [A] No treatment, [B] received placebo, [C] treated with SM cream (0.1), & [D] treated by SM (0.2), were applied topically before UV sun light exposure for 30 days, assessed clinically & tissue pathology. Clinically on 96 adults diagnosed with melasma randomized to three equal groups to receive one of the tested drugs applied twice daily for 4 weeks, evaluated by the response; lesion size, melasma area and severity index score, Physician global assessment, and subjective assessment.ResultsThe Clinical and histopathology observations were reduced significantly in SM groups. Clinically; all patients showed significant excellent pigment improvement & lesion size reduction with SM treatments from the 1st week. All patients were fully satisfied 100%. No side effects were observed.ConclusionsSilymarin showed tremendous improvement of melasma in a dose-dependent manner, and was effective in prevention of skin damage caused by U.V. sunlight. It is a safe new candidate effective treatment for melasma.Trial registrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry - ACTRN12612000602820

The Therapeutic Potential of Milk Thistle in Diabetes

“…Furthermore, 420 mg/day of micronized silimarin (BIO-C) was administered to 25 healthy lactating mothers for 63 days and did not cause dropout from the study as compliance and tolerability were described as "very good" [37]. Also, no side-effects were reported after local application of a silimarinbased cream for melasma treatment [38]. Finally, patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection awaiting transplantation showed similar sideeffects as those mentioned in the above studies after intravenous silibin treatment for 21 days.…”

Melanocytes and Oxidative Stress

“…Silymarin, a natural polyphenolic flavonoid, used as a cream during 4 weeks, was shown to give significant improvement in pigmentation and lesion size reduction in melasma patients [46]. More commonly used in daily practice, vitamin C is also an effective and safe option for treating melasma.…”

Melasma, Novel Treatment Modalities

“…Altei et al [37] published an experimental work on albino rabbits and melasma patients using silymarin (SM) cream. Twenty-four .2), were applied topically before UV sun light exposure for 30 days, assessed clinically &histopathologically.…”