Sequential therapy with topical clobetasol for 14 days followed by hydroquinone versus hydroquinone alone in facial melasma treatment: a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial.
controlled
EVIDENCE COMPARISON
DirectionalEarly or indirect evidence suggests clobetasol and lignin peroxidase show equal effectiveness for reducing pigmentation to improve skin tone, based on indirect comparison.
Effect ratio
Favored
Studies
Comparison
Limits: Indirect comparison · Mixed endpoint quality · Early-stage evidence tier
This is an indirect comparison — the two ingredients were not tested head-to-head in the same trial. The ratio is derived from separate studies against a common comparator.
Kept public as exploratory because it indirect comparison; mixed endpoint quality; early-stage evidence tier.
Some study-specific context may affect how broadly this comparison generalizes.