Scientis Pharma, a leading dermatology research company based in Geneva, Switzerland, has released the world’s first cysteamine-based cream to treat hyperpigmentation disorders. Cysteamine Cream® is a novel, super potent skin depigmenting active agent intended to treat melasma, pregnancy mask, dark spot, lentigos, and for hyper-intensive skin whitening.

Skin pigmentary disorders, such as melasma (mask of pregnancy), post-inflammatory hyperpigmented acne scars, and lentigos (known as liver spots) are among the most common pigmentary disorders in human skin, affecting millions of people around the world every year.

Previously, the most common skin-depigmenting agent for the treatment of these pathologies had been hydroquinone. However, with growing fears over hydroquinone’s link to ochronsis when applied topically as well as carcinogenicity in animal studies, restrictions have been applied to its use in almost all worldwide markets. This has left dermatologists and patients seeking a new alternative.

Cysteamine, a natural antioxidant physiologically synthesized by human body cells, raises hope among patients, clinicians and health-authorities to replace hydroquinone with a novel, safe and effective depigmenting treatment for hyperpigmentation disorders.

In 2015 the British Journal of Dermatology published study results confirming the high efficacy of Cysteamine Cream® for the treatment of melasma. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted by an independent group of researchers¹.

Safety profile

Naturally present in human body cells, cysteamine is safe and largely used various human treatments.

Unlike hydroquinone, cysteamine is known to be an anticarcinogenic² and an anti-mutagenic agent³. Cysteamine is shown in numerous studies to prevent the mutagenic effect of known mutagens on different cell lines4-5.

The Cysteamine Cream® is hydroquinone free, corticosteroid free and paraben free.

No significant side effects, other than allergic reactions in a few cases, are reported with topical use of cysteamine on human being.

How to use Cysteamine Cream

The first depigmenting effects of Cysteamine Cream® become visible after 4 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.

The treatment with Cysteamine Cream® can be done at any time of the year regardless of the intensity of sun light. Cysteamine Cream® can be used in any phototypes.

Cysteamine Cream® should be applied as a 15 minutes-daily evening routine, on rested skin, respecting a one hour interval after washing your skin. 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.

Cysteamine Cream® is available in 50mg tube at a concentration of 5% cysteamine.

Scientis Pharma confirmed that Cysteamine Cream® is now commercialized at RRP CHF EUR USD 79 in Europe, the US and an number of other countries, and can be found online on : scientispharma.com