12-Week, Single-Center Study of a Targeted Pigment-Correcting Dark Spot Treatment for Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation and Solar Lentigines

Elizabeth T Makino; Priscilla Huang; Tsing Cheng; Summer F Acevedo; Cristiane de Oliveira; Rahul C Mehta

doi:10.2147/CCID.S427956

12-Week, Single-Center Study of a Targeted Pigment-Correcting Dark Spot Treatment for Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation and Solar Lentigines

Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2023 Sep 27:16:2677-2686. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S427956. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Elizabeth T Makino¹, Priscilla Huang¹, Tsing Cheng¹, Summer F Acevedo², Cristiane de Oliveira², Rahul C Mehta¹

Affiliations

¹ SkinMedica - Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie Company, Irvine, CA, USA.
² SGS Stephens Inc, Richardson, TX, USA.

Abstract

Purpose: Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) and solar lentigines are dark spots of skin from excessive melanin production due to injury or UV exposure. This 12-week single-center study assessed the efficacy and tolerability of a novel targeted pigment-correcting spot treatment gel suspension cream (Dark Spot Treatment) for improving mild-to-moderate PIH or solar lentigines.

Patients and methods: Female participants (N = 41) aged 25-65 with mild-to-moderate facial dark spots applied Dark Spot Treatment daily for 12 weeks. Investigators assessed overall hyperpigmentation, skin tone evenness, and dark spot intensity, contrast, and size at Weeks 2, 4, 8, and 12. Participant self-assessments occurred at Weeks 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12. Tolerability was assessed by clinical grading and participant reporting.

Results: Dark Spot Treatment improved overall hyperpigmentation, skin tone evenness, and dark spot intensity and contrast at Weeks 2 through 12, and dark spot size at Weeks 4 through 12 (all p < 0.001 compared to baseline). Participant self-assessments showed high overall satisfaction. Dark Spot Treatment was well tolerated.

Conclusion: The novel pigment-correcting Dark Spot Treatment significantly improved the appearance of PIH and solar lentigines, had high participant satisfaction, and was well tolerated.

Keywords: Dark Spot Treatment; age spots; post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation; solar lentigines.

Grants and funding

Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie Company, funded this study and participated in study design, research, analysis, data collection, interpretation of data, review, and approval of the publication. All authors had access to relevant data and participated in the drafting, review, and approval of this publication. No honoraria or payments were made for authorship.