Melanocytes are highly specialised dendritic cells. They transfer melanin to keratinocytes in subcellular lysosome-like organelles called melanosomes, where melanin is synthesised and stored. Melanin is a complex pigment that supplies colour and photoprotection to the mammalian skin, hair, and eyes. Melanogenesis is regulated via various mechanisms and factors like genetic, environmental, and endocrine factors. 

It is important to understand the pigmentation process to understand hyperpigmentation and design treatments and therapies to treat them. Whitening cosmetics with anti-melanogenesis activity have gained popularity.

MITF regulation is the pivotal factor in melanogenesis and thus is the main target for the induction of pigmentation in melasma. Despite knowledge about the main signalling pathways, new treatment to treat melasma is warranted as the current treatments have low efficacy and side effects. 

Along with MITF regulation, other targets should be controlled on melasma treatment like paracrine factors, the SCF-c-Kit and H2 receptor, and other UV-induced factors like ETs secretion and DAG formation. Moreover, melasma commonly affects women, so treatments targeting oestrogens must be considered to obtain more satisfactory results.

Additionally, there exists an increasing need on the part of society to use natural products than synthetic products. Thus, researchers are increasingly concentrating on this type of product along with delivering a reduction in side effects. Natural products that disrupt melanogenesis are a reasonable option for new treatments for melasma as they are safer than conventional ones.

SOURCE-  Maddaleno AS, Camargo J, Mitjans M, Vinardell MP. Melanogenesis and Melasma Treatment. Cosmetics 2021; 8(3): 82. https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics8030082