Cysteamine is a new cosmeceutical ingredient used in skin lightening products.
It is relatively new ingredient used to lighten dark spots because for years the compound was considered too unstable to last on shelves before turning rancid.
New processes have been developed which prevent degradation and enable this ingredient’s use in modern skin care. (4,5)
Cysteamine is great for treating dark spots and preventing sun damage, but it isn’t perfect for every skin type. It is a tyrosinase inhibitor.
Cysteamine is the simplest compound in the aminothiol Family. It is naturally present in the body.
Aminothiols are used as protective ingredients against radiation.
It can be found in many mammal tissues, but is found in highest natural concentrations in mammal milk.(3)
To make sure cysteamine is right for your skin, shop by your Baumann Skin Type!
Benefits
The primary benefit of cysteamine is that it is much safer as a skin lightener than hydroquinone with comparable efficacy.
Other skin lighteners such as kojic acid are a little less irritating to skin, but also less effective.
Because it also absorbs radiation, this ingredient may help prevent sun burns and sun damage when used in combination with sunscreen.
Which skin types should use Cysteamine?
Skin types that are not sensitive to inflammation are good candidates for this potent skin lightening ingredient. That being said, not all skin types require a lightening ingredient in their regimen. The skin types that we think this ingredient is best for are:
Skin type 9: ORPT
Skin type 11: ORPW
Skin type 13: DRPT
Skin type 15: DRPW
Basically, if your skin is resistant to inflammation and also has irregular pigmentation, cysteamine is a great choice for you.
Which skin types should avoid cysteamine?
In general, the skin types that should avoid cysteamine are those prone to inflammation. Inflammation can lead to subsequent conditions like post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, redness, or stinging in general.
If your skin type has sensitivity and inflammation as one of their barriers to skin health, you should avoid this ingredient. If you use an anti-inflammatory alongside cysteamine, however, there is less risk of inflammation even for sensitive types.
In particular, we advise the following skin types to consider skin lighteners with less abrasive sensations if they do not also have anti-inflammatories:
Skin type 1: DSPT
Skin type 2: DSNT
Skin type 3: DSPW
Skin type 4: DSNW
Skin type 5: OSPT
Skin type 6: OSNT
Skin type 7: OSPW
Skin type 8: OSNW
This is to say that sensitive skin types, whether they are pigmented or not, are not always the best candidates for cysteamine in their custom regimens.
Side effects
There are a few common short term side effects from using cysteamine products, but none of them are true threats to your skin health.
It is common to experience mild redness and stinging for about 30 minutes; this is completely normal and safe during the first few days of treatment.
If continued use of cysteamine products is irritating your skin, consider layering an anti-inflammatory product on top.
No studies surrounding usage while pregnant or breast-feeding have been done, so it is recommended to avoid products containing this ingredient under those conditions until research is produced.
If you are pregnant, there are multiple effective and proven safe treatments for hyperpigmentation conditions like melasma.
This ingredient is also worth avoiding if you have vitiligo, as the treatments for vitiligo involve producing more melanin, not inhibiting pigment production with tyrosinase inhibitors.
Is cysteamine safe?
It is considered completely safe for use in skin care as long as it is used properly within your custom skin care regimen!
The EWG rating for cysteamine is “1” which means there are no commonly associated risks or concerns with this ingredient.
Many studies on this ingredient have found it to be a safe alternative to the controversial hydroquinone, which itself has a few associated risks.(7)
As a naturally occurring compound in the human body, cysteamine is entirely non-toxic and safe to use depending on your skin concerns.
cysteamine for hyperpigmentation
For hyperpigmentation
Cysteamine is an effective skin lightening ingredient which is more easily absorbed by the human body than competing skin lighteners.It is a potent tyrosinase inhibitor.
It becomes increasingly common as a skin lightening ingredient every year as more research comes out to support its efficacy.(5)
It is considered the most effective natural compound for the treatment of melasma.
Unlike other skin lighteners like hydroquinone, this ingredient is free of many common concerns having to do with mutagenicity or carcinogenicity.
In fact, it has demonstrated anti-carcinogenic and anti-mutagenic properties. (3)
Despite its effectiveness, some people find the irritating initial feeling of cysteamine uncomfortable.
You may get faster results if you combine cysteamine together with some of these other skin lighteners:
Arbutin
Avocado oil
Ferulic acid
Hexylresorcinol
Kojic acid
Licorice extract
Resorcinol
