retinaldehyde and Melanosis

Retinaldehyde adducts (bisretinoids) accumulate in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells as lipofuscin. Bisretinoids are implicated in some inherited and age-related forms of macular degeneration that lead to the death of RPE cells and diminished vision. By comparing albino and black-eyed mice and by rearing mice in darkness and in cyclic light, evidence indicates that bisretinoid fluorophores undergo photodegradation in the eye (Ueda et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci 113:6904-6909, 2016). Given that the photodegradation products modify and impair cellular and extracellular molecules, these processes likely impart cumulative damage to retina.

Topics: Albinism; Amines; Animals; Antioxidants; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; Darkness; Eye Color; Free Radical Scavengers; Light; Lipofuscin; Macular Degeneration; Melanosis; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Mutant Strains; Photochemistry; Retinal Pigment Epithelium; Retinaldehyde; Rod Cell Outer Segment; Stargardt Disease; Vitamin E

Epidermal melasma is a common hyperpigmentation disorder that can be challenging to treat. Although current treatment options for melasma are limited, topical skin-lightening preparations have widely been used as alternatives to hydroquinone. In this prospective, single-arm, open-label study, treatment of epidermal melasma with a novel cream formulation containing nicotinamide 4%, arbutin 3%, bisabolol 1%, and retinaldehyde 0.05% was associated with reductions in Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) scores as well as total melasma surface area as measured by medical imaging software. Treatment outcomes including tolerance and safety profiles as well as patient satisfaction and product appreciation showed this novel cosmetic compound may be valuable in the treatment of epidermal melasma.

Topics: Administration, Cutaneous; Adolescent; Adult; Arbutin; Dermatologic Agents; Female; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Melanosis; Middle Aged; Monocyclic Sesquiterpenes; Niacinamide; Patient Satisfaction; Prospective Studies; Retinaldehyde; Sesquiterpenes; Severity of Illness Index; Skin Cream; Software; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult