COMPARISON OF A COSMETIC SERUM AND 4% HYDROQUINONE FOR TREATING MELASMA OVER 84 DAYS

Inclusion Criteria: Male or female subjects, primarily female, aged 18 to 65 years at the time of inclusion Fitzpatrick skin phototype II to V Diagnosed with mild to moderate epidermal or mixed-type facial melasma, confirmed by Wood's lamp examination mMASI score between 3.5 and 13 at baseline Subject is in general good health as assessed by the investigator based on medical history and clinical examination Willing to avoid excessive sun exposure and use only the provided SPF50+ sunscreen during the study Able to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent Willing and able to comply with study procedures and scheduled visits Women of childbearing potential must agree to use a reliable method of contraception for at least 3 months prior to and during the entire study duration Exclusion Criteria: Presence of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), lentigines, or other non-melasma facial pigmentation Use of topical or systemic depigmenting treatments, retinoids, corticosteroids, or hormonal treatments within 4 weeks prior to baseline Known allergy or hypersensitivity to any component of the investigational or comparator products Excessive sun exposure or use of tanning beds within 2 weeks before baseline or planned during the study Active skin diseases (e.g., atopic dermatitis, psoriasis) or damaged skin in the test area Pregnant or breastfeeding women, or those planning to become pregnant during the study Participation in another clinical trial within 4 weeks prior to the study or planned participation in another trial during the study History of malignancy in the past 10 years (except treated basal cell carcinoma) Uncontrolled systemic illness (e.g., diabetes, cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, or pulmonary disease) Any psychological or cognitive condition that would limit the subject's ability to understand the study procedures Current use of photosensitizing medications BMI \> 40 or other conditions that may affect protocol compliance as judged by the investigator