Efficacy of lycopene, beta-carotene and Lactobacillus johnsonii in the maintenance treatment of melasma during the summer

Introduction: Melasma, a very frequent acquired hypermelanosis can be treated topically, however some studies have shown that oral antioxidants could reduce the deleterious effects of ultraviolet radiation on the skin.
Objective: To evaluate the effects of oral antioxidants and UVA/UVB sunscreen on the development of melasma during the summer months in Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil – a period when the condition recurs more frequently.
Methods: Patients (n = 68) with melasma were randomized to receive one capsule/day of the nutri-concentrate (containing lycopene, beta-carotene and Lactobacillus johnsonii) and apply sunscreen every 3 hours (Group A) or sunscreen only (Group B). The patients were photographed and evaluated according to the Taylor Hyperpigmentation Scale and the Melasma Area Severity Index.
Results: The study was conducted from December 2010 to March 2011. Group A presented reductions in melasma of 8.5% on the Taylor scale and 19.5% on the Melasma Area Severity Index (p < 0.001). In Group B, the melasma worsened on the Taylor scale and improved 4.6% on the Index.
Conclusions: The use of a nutri-concentrate containing beta-carotene, lycopene and Lactobacillus johsonii combined with an SPF 60 sunscreen was an effective treatment for melasma during the summer. The treatment had a statistically significant reduction according to the Melasma Area Severity Index.

Keywords: MELANOSIS, CAROTENOIDS, LACTOBACILLUS, CLINICAL PROTOCOLS