Depigmenting Efficacy of Commercially Available Skin-LighteningCreams: Comparative Analysis and In Vivo Evaluation

摘要

To prevail over the irrational use of commercial skin lightening creams, this study assessed the de-pigmentingefficacy of various branded skin-lightening creams. Four well known branded creams were selected for this purpose andcoded as P-I, P-II, P-III and P-IV, respectively. Earlier than In-vivo evaluation of the creams, physicochemicalcharacterization and In-vitro stability studies of the creams were carried out to guarantee the quality of the creams. In-vivoevaluation of the creams was performed in human volunteers. The effects of creams on Erythema, skin melanin, transepidermalwater loss (TEWL) and moisture sebum were recorded. Towards the end of the study,“ Panel test” wasconducted with volunteers to review their sensory evaluation about the creams. The results of physicochemicalcharacterization and stability analysis recommended that creams were appropriate for skin application at roomtemperature. P-I and P-IV creams demonstrated highest de-pigmenting efficacy and controlled the Erythema and TEWL.On the other hand, the skin sebum contents were ideally controlled by P-IV cream while skin moisture contents wereincreased upto 21.0% by P-1cream. These results concluded that cream P-I was most suitable for skin-lightening withadded advantages of increasing skin hydration and controlling skin sebum contents.