Skin Depigmenting Agents: Where Do We Stand?

Abstract

Skin hyperpigmentary disorders are frequent and psychologically disturbing conditions for patients. Skin depigmenting agents have been widely used for the treatment of such disorders. The most efficacious depigmenting agents, such as hydroquinone and the Kligman’s formula, are associated with long-term side effects, and safer skin depigmenting agents, such as kojic acid, arbutin, and niacinamide, might suffer from a significantly lower depigmenting efficacy. Therefore, there is still a need for safe and simultaneously efficacious skin depigmenting compounds. Tranexamic acid and cysteamine are two new and interesting molecules that seem to fulfill the majority of the needed characteristics of an acceptable skin depigmenting agent. In this chapter, a review of most important molecules as well as their side effects will be provided with a focus on the newest skin depigmenting molecules recently emerged into the armamentarium of hyperpigmentation treatments.