Stabilized cysteamine outperformed or matched gold-standard treatments like triple-combination cream and tranexamic acid for melasma, with better tolerability. It also showed significant effectiveness against age spots (lentigines), which typically resist most topical treatments. The key breakthrough: cysteamine was finally made shelf-stable and non-stinky enough for actual skincare use.

Researchers reviewed multiple clinical trials and case studies on stabilized cysteamine conducted since 2015, including double-blind randomized controlled trials comparing it directly to established depigmenting treatments.

Funding not disclosed in abstract