The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if Eflornithine hydrochloride cream works to treat melasma in adults, in comparison to Hydroquinone cream. It will also learn about the safety of Eflornithine hydrochloride cream. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does Eflornithine hydrochloride improve melasma assessment scores over a 3-month duration compared to Hydroquinone cream? * What side effects might patients get while using Eflornithine hydrochloride cream? Participants will: * Apply both Eflornithine hydrochloride and Hydroquinone creams on separate halves of their faces every day for 3 months. * Visit the clinic once at the 2-month mark and once at the 3-month mark for checkups and tests.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
20
Eflornithine hydrochloride cream at 11.5% applied twice daily
Hydroquinone 2% cream, applied twice daily
National Skin Centre
Singapore, Singapore
Modified Melasma Area and Severity Index (mMASI)
Time frame: At 8 weeks and 12 weeks
Mexameter melanin score
Mexameter device (Courage + Khazaka Electronic GmbH, Germany)
Time frame: At 8 and 12 weeks
Mexameter erythema score
Mexameter device (Courage + Khazaka Electronic GmbH, Germany)
Time frame: At 8 and 12 weeks
Patient Satisfaction Score
For each side of the face, each patient and dermatologist was asked to grade the severity of melasma from a score of 0 (cleared), 1 (mild), 2 (moderate) to 3 (severe)
Time frame: At 8 and 12 weeks
Physician Global Assessment
For each side of the face, each patient and dermatologist was asked to grade the severity of melasma from a score of 0 (cleared), 1 (mild), 2 (moderate) to 3 (severe)
Time frame: At 8 and 12 weeks
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