Micellar Cysteamine

Micellar Cysteamine is a new, emerging potent depigmenting agent that’s gaining remarkable attention around the world. It's particularly effective in the treatment of recalcitrant melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), and solar lentigines.

What is Cysteamine?

• An aminothiol naturally present in cells of the human body
• A product of cysteine metabolism in the human body
• Acts as an intrinsic antioxidant
• Anti-mutagenic and radioprotector: has a protective role against ionizing radiation
• Potent skin depigmenting agent but not through melanocytotoxicity
• Can inhibit DNA polymerases and cell cycle progression

Functions:

1. Inhibits tyrosinase and peroxidase
2. Slows down the conversion of tyrosine into dopaquinone

Thiols can deplete dopaquinone, eliminating it from the melanogenesis pathway.

3. Increases the levels of intracellular glutathione, amplifying natural depigmenting effects.

High intracellular glutathione levels can switch the process from eumelanogenesis to pheomelanin synthesis.

4. Exhibits keratolytic activity on the epidermis.

Efficacy:

Many different clinical, comparative, and case studies show that stabilized Cysteamine's efficacy is stronger if not equivalent to the gold standards in the treatment of hyperpigmentation.

Stabilized Cysteamine has been compared to Kojic Acid, Tranexamic Mesotherapy, Hydroquinone, Hydroquinone/Vitamin C combination cream, and modified Kligman's Formula or Triple Combination Cream composed of Hydroquinone, Tretinoin, and corticosteroids. In all these comparative studies, Cysteamine has shown better efficacy in treating melasma, post-acne inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and solar lentigines.

Moreover, stabilized Cysteamine is a safer alternative to the gold standard triple combination cream as prolonged use of Hydroquinone causes ochronosis. In addition, long-term use of topical corticosteroids leads to skin atrophy. Therefore, modified Kligman’s Formula is not suitable for long-term use.

Case studies also show that Cysteamine can improve severe melasma that's resistant to Kligman's Formula.

For more information on Micellar Cysteamine, please contact us at inquire@actichem.com.ph.