Research
Latest published research we're tracking.
The newest skincare and haircare papers from PubMed, linked to the ingredients we decode. Summaries are the authors' own abstracts — we excerpt, attribute, and link out to the source.
Showing research linked to Melanin (view profile)
Clear10 papers under Melasma & dark spots
Food-derived components as natural skin-whitening strategies: Classification, mechanisms, application forms and prospects.
Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.) · 2026
BACKGROUND: Skin hyperpigmentation has attracted widespread attention. Traditional chemical skin-whitening components pose potential risks, whereas food-derived skin-whitening components are gaining increasing attention owing to their natural food sources and high biocompatibility. SCOPE AND METHODS: This review was conducted by comprehensively searching Google Scholar, Wiley, and Taylor &… Read on PubMed →
Nonapeptide AOP-P1 ameliorates UVB-induced hyperpigmentation by suppressing melanogenesis via targeting natriuretic peptide receptor 2.
Bioorganic chemistry · 2026
Hyperpigmentation disorders remain challenging to treat because most available agents mainly act on downstream melanogenic enzymes rather than upstream regulatory mechanisms. In this study, we identified AOP-P1, an amphibian skin-derived nonapeptide, as a potent anti-melanogenic peptide with nanomolar activity and no detectable cytotoxicity. By integrating in vitro and in vivo functional assays… Read on PubMed →
Acquired dermal macular hyperpigmentation: a unified spectrum of dermal pigmentary dermatoses.
Clinical and experimental dermatology · 2026
Acquired dermal macular hyperpigmentation (ADMH) encompasses a group of dermal pigmentary disorders (lichen planus pigmentosus, erythema dyschromicum perstans and Riehl melanosis/pigmented cosmetic dermatitis) that present with insidious-onset grey-to-brown macules and patches due to dermal melanin deposition. Traditionally regarded as distinct entities, these disorders share overlapping clinical… Read on PubMed →
Mechanism of Inonotus hispidus in treating melasma: integrated in vivo, in vitro, network pharmacology and untargeted metabolomics investigation.
Journal of ethnopharmacology · 2026
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Inonotus hispidus (Bull.) P. Karst. is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with a long history. Although its use in treating melasma was documented in the Bencaogangmu, its therapeutic mechanism remains unexplored and is poorly understood in modern research. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the mechanism of Inonotus hispidus extract in treating melasma. MATERIALS… Read on PubMed →
Structure-Based Virtual Screening and Mechanistic Characterization of Methotrexate and Selinexor as Potent Anti-Melanogenic Agents via Multi-Pathway Suppression of MITF.
Cells · 2026
Tyrosinase is a pivotal therapeutic target for hyperpigmentation disorders, yet current inhibitors frequently exhibit limited potency and suboptimal safety. Here, we employed structure-based virtual screening of an FDA-approved drug library against a refined human tyrosinase homology model, identifying methotrexate and selinexor as potent anti-melanogenic candidates. Both compounds markedly… Read on PubMed →
Anti-Photoaging and Anti-Melanogenic Effects of a Novel Lactiplantibacillus plantarum RKBP Isolated from Giant Centella asiatica.
Journal of microbiology and biotechnology · 2026
Ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation is a major contributor to photoaging and hyperpigmentation, leading to collagen damage and excessive melanin accumulation. This study investigated the anti-photoaging and anti-melanogenic effects of heat-killed L. plantarum RKBP isolated from Giant Centella asiatica. L. plantarum RKBP was prepared by thermal inactivation and evaluated for anti-photoaging effects… Read on PubMed →
Translational Evaluation of a Disodium Adenosine Monophosphate (AMP2Na)-Based Topical Formulation for Physiology-Aligned Skin Rejuvenation: Integrated In Vitro, Ex Vivo, and Clinical Evidence.
International journal of molecular sciences · 2026
Skin aging stems from intrinsic decline and external stressors that induce oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage, ultimately lowering cellular energy production and slowing epidermal turnover to cause wrinkles, dryness, and pigment imbalances. While disodium adenosine monophosphate (AMP2Na) is hypothesized to enhance cellular adenosine triphosphate production and restore epidermal metabolism… Read on PubMed →
Efficacy and Safety of Topical Metformin vs Kligman Formula in the Treatment of Melasma: A Split-Face Study.
Journal of drugs in dermatology : JDD · 2026
BACKGROUND: Melasma is an acquired pigmentary disorder characterized by symmetrical hyperpigmented macules and patches on sun-exposed areas, primarily the face. Kligman's formula, or "triple combination cream," is widely used but has potential side effects. Metformin, an oral anti-diabetic agent, possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties, suggesting its possible role in melasma… Read on PubMed →
Effectiveness of omega-3 poly unsaturated fatty acids on the treatment of gingival hyperpigmentation: a randomized controlled clinical trial.
BMC oral health · 2026
BACKGROUND: In dentistry, gingival hyperpigmentation is a common aesthetic issue caused mainly by excessive melanin deposits. Traditional surgical methods for depigmentation, like surgical techniques, can be effective, but they often associated with pain after the procedure and longer healing times. Because of their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids… Read on PubMed →
Lasers for Melasma.
Dermatologic clinics · 2026
Melasma is a chronic pigmentary condition with a multifactorial pathophysiology, involving melanin overproduction, photoaging, and hormonal factors, making treatment challenging. Lasers and light-based devices, including intense pulsed light, photobiomodulation, Q-Switched neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser, nanosecond laser, picosecond laser, nonablative fractional laser and… Read on PubMed →