Background: Melasma is a chronic skin condition resulting from increased melanogenic activity, which induces a significant emotional impact on the patient’s quality of life. The efficacy of melasma treatments depends on individual response and on the chosen therapeutic approach, which may include topical skin-lightening agents, oral drugs, and chemical peels. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the reported efficacy of treatment techniques on melasma control and patients’ quality of life through a systematic review and meta-analysis, as well as to investigate a putative relationship between melasma severity and quality of life. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, we collected data from PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases. The eligibility criteria included studies that analyzed the quality of life through the Melasma Quality of Life (MELASQoL) scale from populations of patients suffering from melasma, scored by the Melasma Area Severity Index (MASI). Results: We retrieved 1296 records; those that did not meet the eligibility criteria and duplicates were excluded, resulting in 41 papers that underwent qualitative analysis (information synthesis), from which 23 papers containing 34 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed a decrease in both MASI and MELASQoL scores following oral or topical treatment, as well as the chemical peeling procedure. Spearman correlation test showed a mild positive relationship between MASI and MELASQoL scores. Conclusions: This study provides evidence supporting oral and topical pharmacological treatments, as well as chemical peels, as effective interventions for melasma management. Despite high heterogeneity among studies and methodological limitations, all treatment modalities analyzed improved patients’ quality of life.

Background/Objectives: Neuroblastoma is a pediatric embryonal tumor of the autonomic nervous system, characterized by high heterogeneity. Recent research has explored the therapeutic potential of retinoic acid and selenium derivatives as antiproliferative agents. This study aims to assess the antiproliferative effects of sodium selenite and retinoic acid, as well as the conventional chemotherapeutic agents, cyclophosphamide and cisplatin, using the SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line. Methods: Cells were treated with the compounds at concentrations ranging from 0 to 1000 µM for 72 h. The following assays were performed: cell viability, clonogenic assay, cell migration, cell cycle analysis, and gene expression (BCL2 and BAX). Data were analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis test followed by Dunn’s or the Mann–Whitney test (p < 0.05). IC₅₀ values were obtained from dose–response curves. Results: Sodium selenite (100–1000 µM) significantly reduced cell viability by more than 50% (IC₅₀: 166 µM at 72 h). Retinoic acid (300 µM) reduced viability by 65% (IC₅₀: 198 µM at 72 h), and cisplatin (10 µM) reduced viability by 79% (IC₅₀: 3.4 µM at 72 h). All compounds significantly decreased colony formation. Sodium selenite and retinoic acid induced arrest in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. Gene expression analysis revealed downregulation of the BCL2 gene by all compounds and upregulation of BAX only by sodium selenite at IC₅₀ concentration. Conclusions: Sodium selenite and retinoic acid showed antiproliferative effects on neuroblastoma cells, suggesting their potential as adjuvant therapeutic agents. To reach this goal, we suggest further investigation of their mechanisms of action and evaluation of the combined strategies.