Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Jul;20(7):2168-2171.
doi: 10.1111/jocd.13849. Epub 2020 Dec 4.

The Tam formula: A pilot study for a new treatment for melasma

Radhika Srivastava  1 , Ann M John  1 , Alison Tam  2 , Bahar F Firoz  1
Affiliations

The Tam formula: A pilot study for a new treatment for melasma

Radhika Srivastava et al. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2021 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Melasma is a common hyperpigmentation disorder with numerous, but often unsatisfactory treatment options.

Aims: A pilot study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel topical combination of 12% hydroquinone, 6% kojic acid, and 5% vitamin C cream for melasma.

Patients and methods: A pilot study of 6 women with melasma was conducted at an academic dermatology department and a private dermatology practice to evaluate the efficacy of a topical combination of 12% hydroquinone, 6% kojic acid, and 5% vitamin C cream, entitled the "Tam Formula." Two blinded evaluators calculated Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) Scores before and after treatment to evaluate change from baseline, and statistical analysis was performed.

Results: Treatment with this combination topical cream resulted in an average 63.77 ± 22.10 percent reduction in MASI scores.

Conclusions: While there is a need for further investigation, this pilot study indicates the Tam Formula may provide an alternative treatment option for melasma.

Keywords: hydroquinone; kojic acid; melasma; topical.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

REFERENCES

    1. Victor FC, Gelber J, Rao B. Melasma: a review. J Cutan Med Surg. 2004;8(2):97-102.
    1. Lee AY. Recent progress in melasma pathogenesis. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2015;28(6):648-660.
    1. Bandyopadhyay D. Topical treatment of melasma. Indian J Dermatol. 2009;54(4):303-309.
    1. Rivas S, Pandya AG. Treatment of melasma with topical agents, peels and lasers: an evidence-based review. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2013;14(5):359-376.
    1. Miller NS.Prevent pigment problems in skin of color. MDedge Dermatology. https://www.mdedge.com/dermatology/article/58227/pigmentation-disorders/.... Published January 11, 2019. Accessed May 13, 2020