Cysteamine
TYPE OF INGREDIENT
Aminothiol
COMMONLY FOUND IN
Topical skincare products sold over the counter and by prescription.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CYSTEAMINE?
Cysteamine delivers powerful antioxidant activity in the skin with multiple effects on the melanogenesis pathways. This results in a reduction of dark melanin in the stratum corneum. Cysteamine acts on more levels of melanogenesis than any other topical agent.
WHAT IS CYSTEAMINE?
Cysteamine is an endogenous aminothiol produced in mammalian cells as a consequence of coenzyme A metabolism through the activity of the vanin family of pantetheinase ectoenzymes. It is known to have a biological role in oxidative stress, inflammation and cell migration.
IS CYSTEAMINE SAFE FOR ALL SKIN TYPES AND TONES?
Cysteamine is proven to be safe for all skin types and tones.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Products with cysteamine should not be used by anyone with personal or family history of vitiligo. There is little data on the safety of using products cysteamine during pregnancy, so take caution if you are pregnant or may become pregnant.
Sources:
Desai SR, Hartman CL, Grimes PE, Shah S. Topical Stabilized Cysteamine as a New Treatment for Hyperpigmentation Disorders: Melasma, Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation, and Lentigines.J Drugs Dermatol. 2021;20(12): 1276-1279.
Fraser-Pitt DJ, Mercer DK, Smith D, Kowalczuk A, Robertson J, Lovie E, Perenyi P, Cole M, Doumith M, Hill RLR, Hopkins KL, Woodford N, O’Neil DA. Cysteamine, an Endogenous Aminothiol, and Cystamine, the Disulfide Product of Oxidation, Increase Pseudomonas aeruginosa Sensitivity to Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species and Potentiate Therapeutic Antibiotics against Bacterial Infection. Infect Immun. 2018 May 22;86(6):e00947-17.
Lima PB, Dias JAF, Cassiano D, Esposito ACC, Bagatin E, Miot LDB, Miot HA. A comparative study of topical 5% cysteamine versus 4% hydroquinone in the treatment of facial melasma in women. Int J Dermatol. 2020 Dec;59(12):1531-1536.
