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Relationship between sebostatic activity, tolerability and efficacy of three topical drugs to treat mild to moderate acne
Author(s) -
Stinco G,
Bragadin G,
Trotter D,
Pillon B,
Patrone P
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of the european academy of dermatology and venereology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.655
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1468-3083
pISSN - 0926-9959
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2006.01914.x
Subject(s) - medicine , adapalene , benzoyl peroxide , chin , forehead , cheek , acne , azelaic acid , dermatology , tolerability , adverse effect , surgery , pharmacology , chemistry , genetics , organic chemistry , biology , polymerization , anatomy , polymer
Background Acne is a multifactorial disorder in which the sebum plays an important pathogenetic role. Purpose of the study To evaluate the sebostatic effect of three anti‐acneic ingredients (azelaic acid, adapalene and benzoyl peroxide) conveyed in cream and to determine whether there is a correlation with the therapeutic results. Materials and methods Sixty‐five patients with mild or moderate acne localized on the face were divided into three therapy groups at random: 25 applied azelaic acid once a day, 20, benzoyl peroxide and 20, adapalene. All the patients were observed at the time of enrolling and a further four times at fortnightly intervals. At each visit the sebum casual level on the forehead, chin and one cheek was measured using a sebumeter. Furthermore, side‐effects and clinical‐therapeutic effectiveness were noted. Results Four patients did not complete the study. Azelaic acid showed an average reduction of 13.9% in sebum production on the forehead, 14.2% on the chin and 15.2% on the cheek. Benzoyl peroxide caused an increase of 10.5% in sebum production on the forehead, 10.3% on the chin and 25.4% on the cheek. Adapalene reduced sebaceous secretion by 0.2% on the forehead and 6.7% on the cheek whereas sebum production increased by 6.2% on the chin. All three drugs showed a clinical improvement in the acneic lesions with moderate adverse effects. Conclusion The three topical drugs bring about good therapeutic results with scarce side‐effects that do not, however, seem to be correlated with the sebostatic activity.