Comparison of 4% Topical Hydroquinone versus Combination of Oral Tranexamic Acid and 4% Topical Hydroquinone in the Treatment of Epidermal Melasma

Abstract

Objective: comparison of efficacy of topical 4% hydroquinone monotherapy with combination of oral tranexamic acid and topical 4% hydroquinone in the treatment of epidermal melasma Study design: Quasi experimental study Study period and place: Dermatology OPD, Pak Emirates Military Hospital Rawalpindi from July 2018 to January 2019. Methodology: Total 80 patients presenting with epidermal melasma were selected from outdoor patient department after applying the inclusion criteria and consent was taken from selected patients. Study was started after getting permission from hospital ethical review board. Two treatment groups were made after dividing patients by using alternate method. Treatment with topical 4% hydroquinone alone was started for group A patients and combination of capsule tranexamic acid (250 mg two times a day) along with topical 4% hydroquinone were started for group B patients for the next 6 months. Evaluation of patients through detailed history, clinical and wood’s light examination before starting therapy and after of 24 weeks of treatment was done for both groups. Efficacy of treatment was assessed via Modified MASI score. Results: Hydroquinone monotherapy was effective in 21 (52.5%) patients among group A while in group B patients, combination treatment i.e. oral tranexamic acid and topical hydroquinone, was effective in 31 (77.5%) patients (p value= 0.01). Conclusion: Effectiveness of Hydroquinone 4% topical therapy combined with oral tranexamic acid for epidermal melasma is better than topical 4% hydroquinone alone. Key words: Epidermal melasma, oral tranexamic acid, topical 4% hydroquinone.