Pigmentation - Cyspera® Cysteamine
WHAT IS HYPERPIGMENTATION?
Hyperpigmentation or uneven skin pigmentation is a common skin condition in which some areas of the skin become darker in colour than the surrounding skin. It will occur when an excess of melanin is produced by melanocytes, the pigment cells, and then moved up to the skin’s surface.
Hyperpigmentation can be caused by inflammation, sun exposure, genetic factors, hormonal stress, or other skin injuries. People with darker skin tone are normally more affected by hyperpigmentation marks than those with a fairer skin tone as skin pigmentation is stronger in dark skin.
WHAT IS THE CYSTEAMINE CREAM®
Cysteamine Cream® is a hydroquinone-free topical depigmenting treatment for hyperpigmentation concerns including melasma, brown spots and post-acne and liver spots. It is also a hyper-intensive treatment for whitening and unifying skin tone.
The cysteamine whitening cream uses the active ingredient cysteamine, the simplest natural aminothiol produced in human cells – a metabolite of amino acid L-cysteine.
Cysteamine promotes the transport of L-cysteine into human cells. This can be further used to synthesise Glutathione, an antioxidant. Cysteamine inhibits melanin (dark pigment) synthesis in skin cells, therefore reducing pigmentation.
The Cysteamine Cream® has been shown to be effective for:
- Melasma, particularly epidermal melasma
- Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
- Overall lighten skin colour
- Sunspots and age spots
HOW DOES IT COMPARE WITH OTHER DEPIGMENTING CREAMS?
Clinical studies have shown Cysteamine Cream® to be superior to traditional depigmenting creams such as Hydroquinone in treating melasma.
It is also safer and gentler on human skin because it is naturally occurring in human skin cells and does not have carcinogenic (cancer-causing) potential in long-term use.
ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS?
As Cysteamine Cream® is naturally occurring in human cells, it is a very safe medication. It may cause temporary burning sensation or redness that goes away within 30 minutes.
More persistent skin irritation should be treated with moisturisers. To date, no serious adverse side effects have been reported with Cysteamine use.
Cysteamine Cream® should not be used in those with a personal or family history of Vitiligo, a depigmenting skin disorder. It should also not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women, as no study has been performed during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
HOW TO USE CYSTEAMINE CREAM®?
Cysteamine Cream® can be applied any time of the year regardless of sun exposure and is suitable for all skin tones.
The cream is applied to the desired areas with pigmentation once daily and is washed off after 15 minutes using mild soap and water. After drying the skin, a moisturizer is applied. Ensure that you comply strictly to the daily application routine: not washing off your face before but after the 15 minutes application. Cysteamine Cream® should be applied as a 15 minutes-daily evening routine, on rested skin, respecting a 1-hour interval after washing your skin.
The first depigmenting effects of Cysteamine Cream become visible after 4 to 6 weeks of once-daily application. Optimal depigmenting results are achieved after 8 to 12 weeks of once-daily application.
Once the desired depigmenting results are achieved, maintain the complexion with twice weekly applications. Cysteamine Cream® can be applied to the whole face and neck (including the normal skin), avoiding eye contour. Brown spots respond more rapidly than the normal skin to Cysteamine Cream® and the skin pigmentation becomes uniform by continuation of the treatment.
