EMULGEL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS FOR ANTI-PIGMENTATION THERAPY: FORMULATION, EVALUATION, AND APPLICATIONS

Pigmentation disorders, arising from irregular melanin production or distribution in the skin, significantly impact cosmetic appearance and quality of life. Topical formulations are frequently used for managing hyperpigmentation, with recent advancements focusing on emulgel systems that combine the benefits of gels and emulsions. Emulgels offer improved drug release, better penetration, and enhanced stability compared with conventional creams or gels, especially for hydrophobic actives. This review discusses pigmentation, skin structure and permeability, emulgel formulation and rationale, comparison with conventional dosage forms, advantages, key ingredients, method of preparation, evaluation and stability parameters, storage, usage, precautions, and future prospects.