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Status unknownNCT05099601Updated Oct 29, 2021

Silymarin Cream Versus Combined Silymarin Cream and Microneedling in Treatment of Melasma

A Phase 4 interventional study of Silymarin and Microneedling in Melasma, sponsored by Assiut University. Status unknown. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 50 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2021-10-29.

Sponsored by Assiut University · Phase 4, Interventional, and Treatment

The sponsor has not verified this record recently (last verified Oct 2021), so the status shown — last known as Not yet recruiting — may be out of date.
Phase
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
30
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
18 Years to 50 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Melasma is an acquired pigmentary disorder, occurring most commonly on the face. It is more prevalent in females and darker skin types. Melasma is mainly a clinical diagnosis consisting of symmetric reticulated hypermelanosis in three predominant facial patterns: centrofacial, malar, and mandibular. Melasma, though benign, can be extremely psychologically distressing and has been shown to have a significant impact on quality of life, social and emotional wellbeing. Multiple factors are implicated in the pathogenesis of melasma; however, the definite underlying mechanisms are not yet completely established. Ultraviolet exposure is one of the leading etiological factors, besides genetic and hormonal factors.

Read the detailed description

Many studies examined multiple treatment options for melasma, but none of them is completely satisfactory with recurrence in most cases.

Silymarin (SM) is a standardized extract from Silybum marianum seeds, is traditionally used as a hepatoprotective agent for its potent regenerative properties. Lately, SM is utilized in dermatological and cosmetic preparations for its antioxidant effect, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties.

Silibinin, the main component of silymarin, has been found to have antioxidant properties. It decreases the hazardous effects of solar ultraviolet radiation and significantly prevents melanin production in a dose-dependent manner without effect on cell viability.

Skin microneedling, or percutaneous collagen induction by needles, is a minimally invasive procedure that uses short fine needles to puncture the skin and stimulates fibroblast proliferation, release of growth factors and collagen production.

Long-term improvement of melasma after microneedling was reported , however, the exact mechanism that promotes skin lightening is not known.

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Conditions studied

  • Melasma

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03

In context

Melanosis

149 studies on the registry are indexed under Melanosis; 38 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 30 is below the median of 40 across 139 interventional studies indexed under Melanosis.

Browse Melanosis studies →

Lead sponsor

Assiut University is the lead sponsor of 4,901 studies on the registry; 2,098 are open to participants now.

Of its 13 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 0 (0%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 50 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Age: 18-50 years old.
  • Pattern of melasma: Bilateral symmetrical facial melasma of any pattern.
  • Fitzpatrick skin phototypes: Types III, IV and V

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnancy and lactation.
  • Patients taking oral contraceptive pills, hormonal replacement therapy or treatment for chronic illness at the time of the study or during the past 6 months.
  • Coexistance of diseases associated with hyperpigmentation such as Addison disease.
  • Scarring and keloid tendency, active skin infections as active HSV.
  • Previous history of post inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
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Study design

Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
30 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Silymarin alone versus silymarin and microneedling

    There will be one group of patients. Each side of the patients' face will be randomly allocated to either topical silymarin 0.7% and microneedling or topical silymarin 0.7% alone.

    Combination Product: Silymarin · Procedure: Microneedling

Interventions

  • Combination productSilymarin

    The patients will use topical silymarin 0.7% cream on the face twice daily(home use).

  • ProcedureMicroneedling

    Patients will be subjected to microneedling sessions on one side of the face. Three consecutive sessions, 4 weeks apart (0, 4, 8 weeks), will be performed by dermapen. Sessions will be done by well trained physician.

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What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. compare between the efficacy of topical silymarin alone and its combination with microneedling in treatment of melasma.

    Scoring of the patients according to modified Melasma Area and Severity Index (mMASI) score before and after treatment.

    Time frame: 3 months

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Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

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References and documents

Publications

  • Balkrishnan R, McMichael AJ, Camacho FT, Saltzberg F, Housman TS, Grummer S, Feldman SR, Chren MM. Development and validation of a health-related quality of life instrument for women with melasma. Br J Dermatol. 2003 Sep;149(3):572-7. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2133.2003.05419.x. PubMed 14510991 ↗
  • Choo SJ, Ryoo IJ, Kim YH, Xu GH, Kim WG, Kim KH, Moon SJ, Son ED, Bae K, Yoo ID. Silymarin inhibits melanin synthesis in melanocyte cells. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2009 May;61(5):663-7. doi: 10.1211/jpp/61.05.0016. PubMed 19406006 ↗
  • Cohen BE, Elbuluk N. Microneedling in skin of color: A review of uses and efficacy. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016 Feb;74(2):348-55. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2015.09.024. PubMed 26549251 ↗
  • Handel AC, Miot LD, Miot HA. Melasma: a clinical and epidemiological review. An Bras Dermatol. 2014 Sep-Oct;89(5):771-82. doi: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.20143063. PubMed 25184917 ↗
  • Hou A, Cohen B, Haimovic A, Elbuluk N. Microneedling: A Comprehensive Review. Dermatol Surg. 2017 Mar;43(3):321-339. doi: 10.1097/DSS.0000000000000924. PubMed 27755171 ↗
  • Kimbrough-Green CK, Griffiths CE, Finkel LJ, Hamilton TA, Bulengo-Ransby SM, Ellis CN, Voorhees JJ. Topical retinoic acid (tretinoin) for melasma in black patients. A vehicle-controlled clinical trial. Arch Dermatol. 1994 Jun;130(6):727-33. PubMed 8002642 ↗
  • Kren V, Walterova D. Silybin and silymarin--new effects and applications. Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub. 2005 Jun;149(1):29-41. doi: 10.5507/bp.2005.002. PubMed 16170386 ↗
  • Nofal A, Ibrahim AM, Nofal E, Gamal N, Osman S. Topical silymarin versus hydroquinone in the treatment of melasma: A comparative study. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2019 Feb;18(1):263-270. doi: 10.1111/jocd.12769. Epub 2018 Aug 26. PubMed 30146802 ↗
  • Pandya AG, Hynan LS, Bhore R, Riley FC, Guevara IL, Grimes P, Nordlund JJ, Rendon M, Taylor S, Gottschalk RW, Agim NG, Ortonne JP. Reliability assessment and validation of the Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) and a new modified MASI scoring method. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2011 Jan;64(1):78-83, 83.e1-2. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2009.10.051. Epub 2010 Apr 15. PubMed 20398960 ↗
  • Rigopoulos D, Gregoriou S, Katsambas A. Hyperpigmentation and melasma. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2007 Sep;6(3):195-202. doi: 10.1111/j.1473-2165.2007.00321.x. PubMed 17760699 ↗
  • Tamega Ade A, Miot LD, Bonfietti C, Gige TC, Marques ME, Miot HA. Clinical patterns and epidemiological characteristics of facial melasma in Brazilian women. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2013 Feb;27(2):151-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2011.04430.x. Epub 2012 Jan 3. PubMed 22212073 ↗
  • Tran JM, Chan AW (2012) Quick diagnosis: melasma. University of Toronto Med J 89: 143-145.
  • Vaid M, Katiyar SK. Molecular mechanisms of inhibition of photocarcinogenesis by silymarin, a phytochemical from milk thistle (Silybum marianum L. Gaertn.) (Review). Int J Oncol. 2010 May;36(5):1053-60. doi: 10.3892/ijo_00000586. PubMed 20372777 ↗
  • Wu DC, Fitzpatrick RE, Goldman MP. Confetti-like Sparing: A Diagnostic Clinical Feature of Melasma. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2016 Feb;9(2):48-57. PubMed 27047632 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided

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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Oct 29, 2021, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT05099601
Lead sponsor
Assiut University
Responsible party
Dina Abd El-nasser Attay (principal investigator, Assiut University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Oct 29, 2021
Start date
May 2022 (estimated)
Primary completion
Dec 2022 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 2022 (estimated)
Last update
Oct 29, 2021

Study contacts

Sahar A Ismail, Professor
Contact
Saharsotohy@yahoo.com
+201008899446
Rofaida R Shehata, PHD
Contact
rofaida.refaat@yahoo.com
+201006897580

Oversight

FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is status unknown, as verified in Oct 2021. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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