Wound healing and atopic dermatitis
In 2006, Sener et al. reported that topically applied and systemically administered melatonin was successful as a pressure ulcer treatment in rats.11 Four years later, in a study using a chronic wound model in rats with pinealectomy that suppressed basal melatonin, Ozler et al. found that systemic and topical melatonin treatment were equally effective in imparting wound healing effects.12
A study in mice conducted by Kim et al. at around the same time showed that topically applied melatonin, by reducing total IgE in serum and interleukin-4 and interferon-gamma production by activated CD4(+) T cells, inhibits atopic dermatitis–like skin lesion development engendered by 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) treatment in NC/Nga mice.13
More recently, Abbaszadeh et al. have suggested that melatonin has the potential to enhance the therapeutic ratio in radiation oncology, and to be more effective at reducing skin damage in this setting when used in optimal and non-toxic doses.2
Pigmentation disorders
Melatonin and serotonin are thought to have potential to ameliorate or attenuate the spread of vitiligo.1 In addition, melatonin appears to have potential in the realm of hyperpigmentation treatment. Investigators have found that the combination of topical melatonin 5% and a daily dose of 3 g of oral melatonin over 120 days significantly reduces Melasma Area Severity Index scores in comparison to placebo; the improvement is attributed primarily to the use of topical melatonin.14,15
Dr. Leslie S. Baumann
Androgenetic alopecia
In 2018, Hatem et al. designed nanostructured lipid carriers to better deliver melatonin in antioxidant oils to treat androgenic alopecia. They found that the carriers achieved a sustained release of 6 hours and raised the skin deposition of melatonin 4.5-fold in the stratum corneum, 7-fold in the epidermis, and 6.8-fold in the dermis compared with a melatonin solution. The nanostructured lipid carriers also improved on clinical results, compared to the melatonin formula, by increasing hair density and thickness and reducing hair loss in patients with androgenic alopecia.16
Conclusion
Studies in humans have shown that through systemic administration and, particularly, topical application. Demonstrated to be safe and effective, topically applied melatonin appears to warrant serious consideration as a skin-protective, anti-aging tool in the dermatologic armamentarium.
Dr. Baumann is a private practice dermatologist, researcher, author and entrepreneur who practices in Miami. She founded the Cosmetic Dermatology Center at the University of Miami in 1997. Dr. Baumann wrote two textbooks: “Cosmetic Dermatology: Principles and Practice” (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2002), and “Cosmeceuticals and Cosmetic Ingredients,” (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2014), and a New York Times Best Sellers book for consumers, “The Skin Type Solution” (New York: Bantam Dell, 2006). Dr. Baumann has received funding for advisory boards and/or clinical research trials from Allergan, Evolus, Galderma, and Revance. She is the founder and CEO of Skin Type Solutions Franchise Systems LLC. Write to her at dermnews@mdedge.com.
References
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15. Hamadi SA, Mohammed MM, Aljaf AN, et al. The role of topical and oral melatonin in management of melasma patients. J Arab Univ Basic Appl Sci. 2009;8:30‐42.
16. Hatem S et al. Expert Opin Drug Deliv. 2018 Oct;15(10):927-35.