A double blind study to compare the efficacy of Aloe vera gel and undecylenoyl phenylalanine 2% for treatment of melisma.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of Aloe vera and undecylenoyl phenylalanine 2% for Melasma treatment. Study Design: Double Blind Randomized Controlled Trial. Setting: OPD Dermatology Department of DHQ Teaching Hospital, Sargodha Medical College, Sargodha. Period: October 2018 to March 2019. Material & Method: There were total 120 patients (both male and female) having 60 patients in each group. Patients with melasma were at random allocated either Aloe vera leaf gel and undecylenoyl phenylalanine 2% at night for 12 weeks. Aloe vera leaf gel and undecylenoyl phenylalanine 2% were packed in indistinguishable similar tubes numbered 1 and 2 respectively. Neither the investigators who calculated MASI score nor the patients was aware which tube carry Aloe vera leaf gel or undecylenoyl phenylalanine 2%. The patients were advised to revisit after every 4 weeks for follow-up for three months. Results: On comparison, the mean of Modified MASI score with treatment with Aloe vera leaf gel was reduced from 17.81 to 17.36. One way ANOVA was applied to compare improvement of modified MASI score at 0, 4, 8 and 12 weeks by applying Aloe vera leaf gel which was insignificant with p-value of 0.535. Mean of Modified MASI score with treatment with undecylenoyl phenylalanine 2% was reduced from 18.13 to 4.95. One way ANOVA was quite significant with undecylenoyl phenylalanine 2% with p-value of ˂ 0.001. Conclusion: Undecylenoyl phenylalanine may represent an efficious and beneficial therapy of melasma. Herbal agents which contain Aloe vera and falsely claim that they are effective should be discouraged to treat melasma.