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Melasma research reveals: Licorice lightens faster than Hydroquinone

Many people believe that a 4 percent dosage of hydroquinone is the most effective topical treatment for melasma. New Philippine research suggests that another more effective remedy is available for melasma patients. Those with other skin discoloration problems can also get benefits from it.

Melasma is a hard to treat skin discoloration caused by pregnancy, UV radiation exposure, hormonal treatments, phototoxic drugs, and certain cosmetics.

From January to April of 2002, a double blind clinical trial was conducted. It was done under the supervision of Dr. Katherine Frances E. Dela Rosa Ignacio of the Skin and Cancer Foundation, Philippines.

"In view of the adverse side effects of hydroquinone, the study seeks to find other lightening agents with the same efficacy as hydroquinone but with lesser side effects," the summary reads.

A commercially-prepared product of licorice with 40 percent glabridin content (later identified as Godiva Whitening Cream) was compared with 4 percent hydroquinone, the maximum dosage allowed by the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) for this powerful artificial drug. Glabridin comes from Licorice, a plant native to parts of Europe and China. Glabridin was identified as a powerful whitening agent by Japanese scientists in the early 1990s.

A total of 36 patients of the charity hospital of the Skin and Cancer Foundation were randomly selected. The majority of the patients were in the 41 to 50 year age group (a little less than 67 percent). Three out of four of them were female, 30 were married. All had melasma in either the epidermal or epidermo-dermal stages. Their first examination served as the baseline from which future data was compared. Skin color intensity was measured using the Mx16 Mexameter. An average of three readings were taken. Follow-up treatments were conducted after the first week, and monthly after the second month. After the baseline visit, four examinations were done.

"After seven days, there is a significant lightening versus the baseline with the licorice cream in 20 out of 36 patients (55.55 percent) compared with just 2 out of 36 (5.55 percent) with hydroquinone. With hydroquinone as a gold standard to compare with, licorice produced faster skin lightening, with significant results after just 7 days, with hydroquinone catching up only on the third month," the study summary concluded.

What's noteworthy is that the commercial skin cream used in the trial contained much less than the one percent purified licorice extract. The 40 percent hydroquinone dosage requires a doctor's prescription.

"In view of the demonstrated efficacy of 40 percent glabridin (licorice) and the absence of adverse side effects, the licorice cream can be considered a useful novel approach in melasma therapy," the study points out.

Why not conduct your own study to see if Godiva Licorice Whitening Cream can work for you? It's available at www.godivaskincare.com. See other Godiva Licorice Whitening products now!  

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