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Head-to-head evidence comparison — which supplement is right for you?
Cysteamine (topical) and Kojic Acid are closely matched across evidence, studies, and safety.
Verdict
Mostly mechanism / observational
Top outcomes
Verdict
Mostly mechanism / observational
Top outcomes
Shared outcomes (1)
Outcomes where both Cysteamine (topical) and Kojic Acid have evidence — compare verdict strength side-by-side.
Topical cosmetic. Cysteamine 5% cream is typically applied once daily to areas of melasma as a short-contact treatment (left on for ~15 minutes, then washed off) to limit odor and irritation, with daily sunscreen. There is no oral or systemic use in this context. This library does not provide an ingestion protocol.
any
Cysteamine 5% cream (short-contact application)
Topical cosmetic only. Kojic acid is typically used at roughly 1-2% in leave-on serums or creams (or as the more stable kojic acid dipalmitate), applied to areas of hyperpigmentation once or twice daily, often alongside other brighteners and daily sunscreen. There is no oral, injectable, or systemic dose — it is not ingested. This library does not provide an ingestion protocol.
any
Leave-on topical serum or cream (≈1-2% kojic acid, or kojic acid dipalmitate)
Throughout
8-16 weeks
Throughout
Throughout
Throughout
8-12 weeks
Throughout
1-12 months
Evaluation of the efficacy of cysteamine 5% cream in the treatment of epidermal melasma: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.
Br J Dermatol (2015) · Rct · n=50
First double-blind placebo-controlled RCT of cysteamine 5% cream for epidermal melasma (n=50), nightly for 4 months
Efficacy of cysteamine cream in the treatment of epidermal melasma, evaluating by Dermacatch as a new measurement method: a randomized double blind placebo controlled study.
J Dermatolog Treat (2018) · Rct · n=40
Second double-blind placebo-controlled RCT (n=40), nightly cysteamine 5% for 4 months, with Dermacatch and Mexameter colorimetry
A comparative study of topical 5% cysteamine versus 4% hydroquinone in the treatment of facial melasma in women.
Int J Dermatol (2020) · Rct · n=40
Multicenter evaluator-blinded head-to-head of cysteamine 5% vs hydroquinone 4% (n=40), nightly for 120 days with sunscreen
Treatment of melasma using kojic acid in a gel containing hydroquinone and glycolic acid.
Dermatol Surg (1999) · Rct · n=40
Split-face randomized design in 40 women with epidermal melasma: 2% kojic acid added to a 10% glycolic acid + 2% hydroquinone base vs the base alone
Efficacy and safety of topical agents in the treatment of melasma: What's evidence? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
J Cosmet Dermatol (2023) · Meta analysis
Pooled 45 efficacy studies (2359 patients) of topical melasma treatments using MASI standardised mean differences
Kojic Acid vis-a-vis its Combinations with Hydroquinone and Betamethasone Valerate in Melasma: A Randomized, Single Blind, Comparative Study.
Indian J Dermatol (2013) · Rct · n=80
80 melasma patients randomized over 12 weeks to kojic acid 1% alone, kojic acid + hydroquinone 2%, kojic acid + betamethasone, or all three (MASI-assessed)
Both Cysteamine (topical) and Kojic Acid are closely matched — the best choice depends on your specific health goals.
Both Cysteamine (topical) and Kojic Acid score equally (70) for even skin tone.
No known interactions between Cysteamine (topical) and Kojic Acid have been documented in our database. However, always consult a healthcare provider before combining supplements.