If the side effects of pigmentation creams worry you, your worries are not unfounded. There’s a new topical pigmentation corrector that has been approved for treating stubborn pigmentation like melasma and freckles in Singapore – Cyspera(Cysteamine).
Cyspera – Pigmentation Removal
I am excited to share about Cyspera with you because Cyspera is novel pigmentation corrector that has been shown to effectively lighten pigmentation, especially cases of melasma that have been difficult to treat, without the side effects of its precursors like hydroquinone. Although regarded as the gold standard treatment for pigmentation problems like melasma- hydroquinone has been shown to cause side effects like skin irritation and rebound and so hydroquinone is not frequently used these days to treat pigmentation.
What is Cyspera melasma cream?
Cyspera is a pigmentation lightening cream. The active ingredient is cysteamine, a natural agent in human cells that reduces melanin in the skin. Cyspera reduces brown spots, reduces pigmented marks and produces a uniform and light skin complexion. It has also been shown to be effective in treating hyperpigmentation problems especially melasma.
Cysteamine is also an antioxidant that protects our cells from the effects of ionising radiation and cancer. Cysteamine can also be found in breast milk.
Although the pigmentation lightening effects of cysteamine have been known for more than 50 years, cysteamine was not developed to treat melasma because of its strong odour. In recent years, Scientis Pharma has developed a technology that stabilised cysteamine molecules and significantly reduced its odour in cream conditions. Cyspera or Cysteamine Cream is the first and only pigment corrector containing cysteamine in the world.
In April 2013, the American Academy of Dermatology published results that set Cysteamine Cream® as the new standard for hyperpigmentation problems. Since then, numerous scientific journals including the PanAmerican Society for Pigment Cell Research, the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology and the British Journal of Dermatology published results demonstrating the potent pigment correction of Cysteamine Cream® by significantly efficacy in decreasing melanin content in pigmented marks.
How does Cyspera/ Cysteamine melasma cream work?
This cream inhibits the activity of the enzymes tyrosinase and peroxidase. These two enzymes are involved in the key steps of melanin or pigmentation formation. When combined with treatments like Pico laser, Q-switched laser, 1550 Erbium laser, 1927 Thulium laser and chemical peels; the pigmentation lightening results are accelerated. The cream complements in-clinic treatments and allows for daily use while treatments are often done every 2 weeks or every quarter.
Cyspera is also suitable for intensive and maintenance in the long term and does not have the side effects of other melasma/pigmentation lightening treatments like hydroquinone.
What are the benefits of Cyspera/ Cysteamine melasma cream?
Cysteamine is one of the strongest antioxidants naturally present in the human body and breast milk and it reduces melanin pigmentation in the skin. With Cyspera/ cysteamine melasma cream, there is significant lightening of pigmentation– be it melama, post inflammatory hyperpigmentation or freckles.
Safety– Cyspera/cysteamine is hydroquinone- free, retinoic acid-free, kojic acid- free, steroid free, non-cytotoxic, non-mutagenic, non-carcinogenic and increases the production of glutathione naturally.
Clinical efficacy– Significant pigment correction and superior benefit to risk ratio. Cyspera/ cysteamine melasma cream is now regarded as the new standard for hyperpigmentation.
First and only– Cyspera is the first and only skin pigment corrector containing cysteamine as a biogenic ingredient.
How soon can i see results of Cyspera/ cysteamine pigmentation cream
Initial results can be seen 6 weeks of daily use of Cyspera/ cysteamine pigmentation cream for 15 minutes to the areas of hyperpigmentation. At 12 weeks, there is significant correction of pigmentation with 77% reduction in pigmentation. 90% of users reported moderate to significant improvement in their pigmentation.
What are the side effects of Cyspera/ cysteamine pigmentation cream?
Cyspera/ cysteamine cream is generally very safe with very low risk of side effects. Rarely, mild skin irritation (e.g.redness and dryness)may occur. For the first few days, you may experience a warm sensation and mild redness on immediate application of Cyspera/ cysteamine cream to the skin and this is normal. This sensation is temporary and will disappear within 30 minutes of application of Cyspera/ Cysteamine cream.
After 6 weeks of application of cysteamine, the risk of skin irritation reduces considerably, and higher exposure times are usually well tolerated (although it is not necessary to increase the exposure time). There is no limit for the long-term use of cysteamine.
Is Cyspera/ cysteamine cream safe for pregnant or breastfeeding women?
So far, there are no safety studies performed in pregnant or breastfeeding mothers to assess the safety of Cyspera/ cysteamine. The manufacturer’s (Scientis Pharma) recommendation is to avoid using Cyspera/ cysteamine cream until the pregnancy and breastfeeding periods have been complete. During your pregnancy or breastfeeding periods, you can consider other safe treatments for pigmentation correction like Pico laser, Q-switch laser and chemical peels. Other pigmentation lightening skincare that can be used by pregnant and breastfeeding women is vitamin C.
How do I use Cyspera/ Cysteamine cream?
Intensive phase: Once per day for 16 weeks
Maintenance phase: Twice-weekly, once per day
- Apply Cyspera/ cysteamine cream on a rested skin. Do not wash the skin before application. If necessary to wash, wait for one hour before application.
- Apply a thin layer on the skin (a warming sensation or mild tingling may occur and last up to 30 minutes). Leave on for 15 minutes.
- Wash off -Remove by washing the area with a gentle face cleanser. Gently pat your face dry.
- Moisturise the area. Maintain skin hydration during the day.
How can I minimise the side effects or skin irritation with Cyspera/ Cysteamine cream?
Undesirable effects happen when:
- The face is washed just before the application (minimum 1h interval to be respected)
- Long exposure times
- Concomitant use with other topical products
Therefore, limit the application of Cyspera/ cysteamine cream to 15 minutes of application to the skin and 1 hour interval between washing and application of Cyspera/ cysteamine cream.
Where can I get Cyspera/ cysteamine cream in Singapore?
You can get Cyspera/ cysteamine cream from The Clifford Clinic in Singapore.
How does Cyspera/ cysteamine cream compare to Hydroquinone?
Although hydroquinone is regarded as the best or gold standard treatment for melasma, a type of hyperpigmentation, hydroquinone is not commonly prescribed because of its side effects like skin irritation, onchronosis and rebound pigmentation. Even when hydroquinone is prescribed by doctors to treat melasma, the course is usually a short one that does not exceed 6 months because of the side effects of hydroquinone.
In comparison, Cyspera/ cysteamine cream is much safer and can be used long term for maintenance of pigmentation correction. Cyspera/ cysteamine cream is becoming more popularly prescribed in Singapore and Asia because of its efficacy and safety for pigmentation treatment, especially when used as an adjunct to the Q-switched laser and Pico laser.
How does Cyspera/ cysteamine cream compare to lasers for pigmentation treatment?
So far there are no studies that compare Cyspera/ cysteamine cream to lasers for treatment of melasma or other types of pigmentation. In my experience, combining Cyspera/ cysteamine cream together with lasers for melasma and other types of pigmentation -namely the Q switch laser and Pico laser– gives better results than when used alone.
