Does papain, an enzyme found in papaya fruit, remove the effects of a skin disorder known as melasma, a common and harmless skin discoloration? No, that's not true: Medical experts say no treatment will make melasma disappear and there are no products to remove dermal pigment which causes skin discoloration. Papain is found in exfoliating products which may in some cases irritate the skin.
The claim appears in a video (archived here) published on TikTok by @huytbufi245 on January 13, 2023, with a caption translated into English from Thai by Lead Stories staff that reads:
This is suitable for people who have melasma
This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:
(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Tue Jan 30 10:32:42 2024 UTC)
Melasma is a skin condition that causes patches and spots, usually on the face, darker than your natural skin tone. Many factors cause melasma, such as sunlight, pregnancy, some medications, and stress. According to doctors at the Cleveland Clinic, melasma is considered common and harmless, affecting mostly women, with pregnant women getting it more often.
At present, โโthere is no known cure for melasma (archived here), but there are several treatment options that may improve its appearance and help to fade its discoloration. The disorder may last for long periods, with some people who have it for years or their entire lives, and others may experience it only for short periods, for example, women may experience it during pregnancy.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the most effective treatment combines sun protection with topical medications that may help inhibit new pigment formations.
Atirut Asasuek (archived here) a doctor who appears widely on Thai social media, also posted his reaction to the claim that papain treated melasma, saying he does not recommend applying papain on the face because it may instead cause or aggravate skin allergies.
