Background: Solar lentigines are a common dermatologic condition that manifest as circumscribed single or multiple brownish macules usually located on sun-exposed skin such as face, hands or forearms. An effective, safe, daily-use, homecare whitening product may alleviate the cosmetic concerns for the general population. The efficacy and safety of the previous generation BEX-2009 (Blanc Expert Spot Eraser, L'Oreal, France), a whitening cosmetic product containing ellagic acid, salicylic acid, licorice root extract, etc., has been established in Caucasian and Asian populations with facial solar lentigines.

Objective: The purpose of this placebo-controlled, single-center study is 1) to evaluate the efficacy of the new generation whitening cosmetic product BEX-2011 (Ultimate Whitening Spot Eraser, L'Oreal, France) in the improvement of solar lentigines on the dorsum of hands or forearms, and 2) to evaluate the efficacy of BEX-2011 by harmonic generation microscopy to obtain information of the epidermal melanin continuum, compared to other standard tools for melanin measurement.

Method: 40 subjects, who are non-gravid women between 45 to 65 years old and need to have ≥10 solar lentigines on the forearms/hands, will be recruited. One to three flat lesions which are larger than 4 mm and with the same pigmentation intensity on the left or right forearm/hand, respectively, are designated the target lesions. However, all lesions on the randomly selected side will be treated with BEX-2011 twice a day. The opposite site will be treated with vehicle and is served as the control. Evaluation will be performed at week 0, 4 and 8. At each visit, treated and control spots as well as their surrounding spotless skin will be evaluated using Pigmentation Index Scores, VISIA-CR, SIAscope, Dermascore, and harmonic generation microscopy. Evaluation of the efficacy of whitening will be compared to the baseline and to the control area between week 0 and week 8. Safety will be assessed using clinical monitoring and adverse event reporting.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 40-65 years old Asian women (skin types III to IV)
• With ≥10 solar lentigines on the forearms or dorsum of hands
• With at least one to three lesions ≥4 mm on the left or right forearm/ dorsum of hand, respectively, which are flat and are at the same pigmentation degree according to the color chart.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having major treatment, including topical hydroquinone or tretinoin, cryotherapy, electrosurgery, trichloroacetic acid application, laser or intense pulsed light, in the 3 months before the beginning of the study
• Past history of allergy to whitening cosmetic products
• Past history of atopic dermatitis
• Habit of going to the tanning salon or frequent sun exposure longer than 4 hours per day