이무형,
김현진, 하동주, 백종현, 김홍용
J Korean Med Sci.
2002 Aug;17(4):518-23.
Melasma
is an acquired symmetric hypermelanosis characterized
by irregular light-to gray-brown macules and patches
on sun-exposed areas. Many therapeutic agents are
available but are unsatisfactory. Recently, it has
been demonstrated that lincomycin (LM) and linoleic
acid (LA) can inhibit melanogenesis in vitro. Our
purpose was to investigate the clinical efficacy
of topical application of LM and LA in combination
with betamethasone valerate (BV) in melasma patients.
Forty-seven Korean female adults with clinically
diagnosed melasma were enrolled in a 6-week, double-blind,
randomized clinical trial. Patients were treated
with one application of the vehicle (group A), 2%
LM mixed with 0.05% BV (group B), or 2% LM mixed
with 0.05% BV and 2% LA (group C) on the face every
night. Determination of efficacy was based on the
Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) score and
objective assessment (no effect, mild, moderate,
or excellent) at intervals of 2 weeks until the
end of the study at 6 weeks. After 6 weeks, in comparison
with the pre-treatment MASI score, the average MASI
score of group C decreased to 68.9%, compared with
98% in group A (p<0.05) and 85.4% in group B.
There was no statistically significant difference
between group A and group B. Seven patients (43.7%)
in group C revealed more than moderate improvement
in objective assessment, compared with none in group
A and two patients (12.5%) in group B. There were
no significant side effects. Topical application
of linoleic acid is considered to be effective in
the treatment of melasma patients. |
