Open AccessRaman spectroscopy analysis of the skin of patients with melasma before standard treatment with topical corticosteroids, retinoic acid, and hydroquinone mixture
Author(s) -
Moncada B.,
CastilloMartínez C.,
Arenas E.,
LeónBejarano F.,
RamírezElías M. G.,
González F. J.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
skin research and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.521
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1600-0846
pISSN - 0909-752X
DOI - 10.1111/srt.12245
Subject(s) - melasma , dermatology , raman spectroscopy , melanin , hyperpigmentation , medicine , tyrosinase , chemistry , optics , biochemistry , physics , enzyme
Background Melasma is an abnormal acquired hyperpigmentation of the face of unknown origin, it is considered a single disease and very little has been found regarding its pathogenesis. It is usually assumed that melasma is due to excessive melanin production, but previous work using Raman spectroscopy showed degraded molecules of melanin in some melasma subjects, which may help to explain the success or failure of the standard therapy. Methods We perform Raman spectroscopy measurements on in vivo skin from melasma patients before treatment to identify the molecular structure of melanin within every melasma lesion. The Raman spectra were grouped according to the treatment response from patient, and the Raman spectra were analyzed. Results Raman spectroscopy measurements showed a different molecular structure of the patients who did not respond to treatment, those patients shows atypical Raman skin spectrum with peaks associated with melanin not well defined, which is consistent with molecular degradation and protein breakdown. Conclusion Our results are consistent with our previous work in the sense that melasma patients who do not respond to treatment have an abnormal melanin. We believe it will eventually help to decide the treatment of melasma in clinical dermatology.