Abstract Background: Melasma is an acquired symmetrical hyper-pigmentation that typically presents on the face. Its etiology is multifactorial; its treatment remains a challenge and unsat-isfactory. Glutathione is a major antioxidant which plays critical roles in protecting cells from oxidative damage and the toxicity of xenobiotic electrophiles, and maintaining redox homeostasis. Aim of the Work: To assess the efficacy and safety of topical and oral glutathione in the treatment of melasma. Patients and Methods: This study included 30 female patients with melasma were selected among those attending the Outpatient Clinic of Dermatology and Venereology De-partment, Tanta University Hospitals during the period between December, 2015 and February, 2017. The studied patients were divided into 3 groups. Group I (10 patients) applied glutathione (2%) cream to right side of the face while placebo cream to left side (as a control) twice daily for 10 weeks. Group II (10 patients) received oral glutathione capsules (500mg/day) for 4 weeks. Group III (10 patients) received oral placebo capsules (as a control) once daily for 4 weeks. Modified melasma area and severity index (MASI) score was calculated before and after therapy. The patients were followed up for a period of 3 months. Results: Significant reduction in modified MASI was observed in patients treated with topical and oral glutathione (p=0.011) and (p=0.007) respectively, while patients treated with topical or oral placebo had no response. Topical and oral forms of glutathione were safe and well tolerated. Conclusion: Glutathione is safe, tolerable and effective whitening agent when used in topical cream (2%) and also in oral form in treatment of melasma.
LAMIA H. EL-GARHY, M.D., A. A. F. M., & BASMA M. ALI, M.D., N. A. E. M. (2018). Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of Topical and Oral Glutathione in Treatment of Melasma. The Medical Journal of Cairo University, 86(September), 3083-3092. doi: 10.21608/mjcu.2018.59879
MLA
AL-SHAIMAA A. FARAHAT, M.Sc.; LAMIA H. EL-GARHY, M.D.; NAGEH A. EL-MAHDY, M.D.; BASMA M. ALI, M.D.. "Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of Topical and Oral Glutathione in Treatment of Melasma", The Medical Journal of Cairo University, 86, September, 2018, 3083-3092. doi: 10.21608/mjcu.2018.59879
HARVARD
LAMIA H. EL-GARHY, M.D., A. A. F. M., BASMA M. ALI, M.D., N. A. E. M. (2018). 'Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of Topical and Oral Glutathione in Treatment of Melasma', The Medical Journal of Cairo University, 86(September), pp. 3083-3092. doi: 10.21608/mjcu.2018.59879
VANCOUVER
LAMIA H. EL-GARHY, M.D., A. A. F. M., BASMA M. ALI, M.D., N. A. E. M. Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of Topical and Oral Glutathione in Treatment of Melasma. The Medical Journal of Cairo University, 2018; 86(September): 3083-3092. doi: 10.21608/mjcu.2018.59879