Cysteamine, tranexamic acid combination cream yields promising results for melasma

Key takeaways:

• Melasma scores improved by 40%, 57% and 63% at days 30, 60 and 90, respectively.
• Adverse events were reported in six of the 50 subjects.

A novel nano-formulated combination cream composed of cysteamine and tranexamic acid improved melasma and demonstrated high patient satisfaction, according to a study.

“In previous research, cysteamine and TXA creams have proven effective for melasma,” Khalil A. Khatri, MD, of Skin & Laser Surgery Center of New England in Boston, and colleagues wrote. “However, those studies either utilized cysteamine or TXA creams.”

In this study, the authors evaluated the efficacy, safety and patient satisfaction of a formulation that combines both cysteamine and tranexamic acid (TXA) cream (NanoMD Cyntra, Boston Sante) for the treatment of epidermal melasma. Fifty subjects (mean age, 41 years; five men) with melasma applied the combination cream for 30 minutes daily for 3 months.

At the 30-day assessment, the modified Melasma Area and Severity Index (mMASI) score improved by 40%. This improvement increased with time, reaching 57% at day 60 and 63% at day 90. Ultimately, 91% of participants experienced melasma improvement, meeting the primary endpoint of decrease in mMASI score from baseline to last visit.

The proportion of patients reporting satisfaction increased at each evaluation period, resulting in 78% of participants reporting satisfaction with treatment efficacy and 83% reporting global satisfaction at day 90. Seventy-three percent of patients also stated that the combination formula was convenient to use, exhibiting a moderate correlation with patient adherence.

Six subjects reported adverse events including redness, skin dryness, itchiness, burning sensation and irritation, all of which resolved as treatment continued.

“The novel nano-formulated cysteamine and TXA combination cream is safe and effective and offers a promising treatment option for melasma,” the authors wrote.