Topical Methimazole as a New Treatment for Postinflammatory Hyperpigmentation: Report of the First Case

• Published in: Dermatology (Basel) Vol. 211; no. 4; pp. 360 - 362
• Main Authors: Kasraee, Behrooz, Handjani, Farhad, Parhizgar, Amin, Omrani, Gholamhosein R., Fallahi, Mohammad Reza, Amini, Mitra, Nikbakhsh, Mohammad, Tran, Christian, Hügin, Ambros, Sorg, Olivier, Saurat, Jean-Hilaire
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland Karger 01.01.2005; S. Karger AG
• Subjects: Administration, Cutaneous; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Burns, Chemical - complications; Case Report; Dermatologic Agents - administration & dosage; Dermatologic Agents - therapeutic use; Dermatology; Facial Dermatoses - drug therapy; Humans; Hyperpigmentation - drug therapy; Male; Medical sciences; Melanins - antagonists & inhibitors; Methimazole - administration & dosage; Methimazole - therapeutic use; Occupational Diseases - complications; Peroxidase - antagonists & inhibitors; Pigmentary diseases of the skin; Thyrotropin - blood; Thyroxine - blood; Triiodothyronine - blood; Methimazole; Depigmenting agents; Melanin; Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation; Human; Thiamazole; Imidazole derivatives; Skin disease; Antithyroid agent; Pigmentation disorder; Dermatology; Inflammation; Percutaneous route; Case study; Local administration; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Hypermelanosis; Skin; Bleaching agent
• ISSN: 1018-8665; 1421-9832
• DOI: 10.1159/000088509

We have previously shown that the peroxidase inhibitor methimazole (1-methyl-2-mercapto imidazole; MMI) is a noncytotoxic inhibitor of melanin production in cultured B16 melanocytes. It was further demonstrated that the topical application of 5% MMI on brown guinea pig skin for 6 weeks causes a significant reduction in the amount of epidermal melanin, resulting in visually recognizable cutaneous depigmentation. Herein, we report a 27-year-old male with postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (due to acid burn), successfully treated with topical MMI as a new skin depigmenting agent. Topical 5% MMI caused a moderate to marked improvement of the hyperpigmented lesions within 6 weeks of once-daily application. Topical MMI was well tolerated by the patient and did not affect the level of serum thyroid hormones (free thyroxin, free triiodothyronine and the thyroid-stimulating hormone). Unlike most known depigmenting agents, such as hydroquinone and kojic acid, MMI is a noncytotoxic, nonmutagenic compound, and it is possible that MMI could serve as a novel agent for the treatment of hyperpigmentary disorders in human.