Evaluation of the Effect of Topical Picolinamide on Epidermal Melasma

Pourahmadi Mohammad¹, Feily Amir², Kargar Jahromy Hossein³ and Kasraee Behrooz⁴

¹Department of Anatomy, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran. ²Department of Dermatology, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran ³Zoonoses Research Center, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran. ⁴Department of Dermatology, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.

ABSTRACT: Melasma is an acquired increase of pigmentation of the skin. Hydroquinone is an effective treatment which has mutagenic effect. Picolinamide prevents the synthesis of melanin by inhibiting the peroxides. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of anti-epidermal melasma of Picolinamide. 30 patients with epidermal melasma and non-pregnant or resistant to anti-stain cream were selected. By colorimeter the amount of melanin of both sides of the face was measured. After taking photos of the face, Picolinamide cream 5% was given to each patient for night use for the right side and hydroquinone 2% for the left side. Patients at the end of the treatment period came for measuring the amount of epidermal and also having a photo taken at the end of the treatment period. The average amount of the epidermal layer of melanin at the end of the eighth week was significantly (P£000/0) reduced in patients who used Picolinamide 5% on the right side of the face and hydroquinone 2% on the left side, but the difference between the two sides was not significant at P=/568. Also, patients who used the creams on the right and left side of their face have no significant differences on the average amount of skin erythema at the end of the eighth week of treatment and also to each other. In observing and also evaluating the before and after treatment photos, no considerable differences were detected in terms of improvement of melasma by a dermatologist and supervisor and patients were not suitably satisfied with their improvement, but at the end of the eighth week of treatment, the average amount of melanin in both sides was reduced to 20%. These findings indicate that the Picolinamide 5% cream, like hydroquinone cream 2% has the ability of de-pigmentation.

KEYWORDS: Epidermal melasma; Hydroquinone; Picolinamide

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