Evaluating the Effect of K5® Lipogel on the Treatment of Melasma: A Before-After Clinical Trial

Background: Melasma is a dermatologic condition that has a major effect on self-esteem. Many treatment modalities have been used, mostly with limited success. In this study, the efficacy of K5® Lipogel, containing pidobenzone 4%, was utilized to treat melasma. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in the Dermatology Clinic of Faghihi Hospital in Shiraz, Iran, during 2015-2016. Thirty-one females with melasma received K5® Lipogel twice daily alongside a sunscreen cream. Melanin content was measured using the modified melasma area and severity index (mMASI) and a colorimetric device, Dermacatch. In addition, the patients’ subjective responses to treatment and the physician’s subjective opinion underwent assessment. Eventually, patients were evaluated at the baseline and the end of the first and third months. Results: The patients’ ages ranged from 20 to 37 years old (mean of 33±3.63 years). The mMASI score was significantly decreased from baseline to the first and third month (10.25±0.52, 8.32±0.43, and 6.35±0.55, respectively; P<0.0001). Colorimetric results also demonstrated a satisfactory decrease in the melanin component with a 23-unit decrease after treatment for 3 months. Overall, subjective response to treatment was reported as good in 58.1% of the patients, while this figure was 64.5% for physician opinion. Conclusion: K5® Lipogel was a fairly effective topical remedy in the treatment of melasma and could be used as a treatment modality in this recalcitrant skin condition.