Topical anhydrous aluminum chloride formulation in the treatment of acne vulgaris: a double-blind study

A randomized double-blind bilateral study of twenty-five patients with acne vulgaris showed that eight weeks' treatment with 6.25 percent aluminum chloride in anhydrous alcohol gave better results than alcohol alone (p = 0.1). Improvements were recorded with both 6.25 percent aluminum chloride in anhydrous alcohol and with placebo, but 6.25 percent aluminum chloride in anhydrous alcohol proved better after four weeks' treatment. The effect on acne of 6.25 percent aluminum chloride in anhydrous alcohol is probably due to the disinfectant and antiperspirant action of aluminum chloride whereas the effect of placebo can be assigned to the sebostatic action of alcohol. The result of this study confirms previous results of open uncontrolled studies.     

A double-blind comparison of topical clindamycin and oral minocycline in the treatment of acne vulgaris

Sixty-six patients with moderate to severe facial acne vulgaris were entered in a 12-week double-blind study to compare the efficacy of topical clindamycin phosphate 1% twice daily and oral minocycline 50 mg twice daily. Both treatments gave significant overall improvements from baseline observations in acne grade and inflamed lesion counts, but not in noninflamed lesion counts. There were no significant differences between the two treatment groups in respect of acne grade, inflamed or non-inflamed lesion counts. Both treatment regimes were well tolerated. This study has shown that topical clindamycin twice daily is an effective alternative to oral minocycline 50 mg twice daily in the treatment of moderate to severe facial acne vulgaris.     

粉刺治疗仪治疗寻常痤疮的临床研究

【摘要】 目的 评价粉刺治疗仪治疗寻常痤疮的疗效和安全性。 方法 73例轻中度寻常痤疮患者,采用双中心随机单盲自身阴性对照平行试验方法,从每例患者面部取2个类似的炎性丘疹,分别用粉刺治疗仪（输出温度为46 ℃ ～ 50 ℃）和无热源的安慰仪器进行治疗（分别为治疗组和对照组）,共治疗3次,每次3 min,头2次在第1天,2次间隔1 ～ 12 h,第3次在第2天,与上1次治疗间隔18 ～ 48 h。于治疗前、开始后第1、5和14天分别记录受试者两个皮损的颜色、直径、不良反应等,并对每个皮损进行评分,比较治疗结果。 结果 治疗组73例治疗后第1、5和14天分别有66例（90.4%）、73例（100.0%）、72例（98.6%）有效,27例（37.0%）、64例（87.7%）、72例（98.6%）显效,与对照组有效率和显效率比较,差异均有统计学意义。治疗组皮损红肿开始消退的平均时间为19.51 h,比对照组提前82.41 h;治疗组完全痊愈的平均时间为7.15 d,比对照组提前5.07 d。 结论 粉刺治疗仪治疗轻中度痤疮安全有效,可快速缓解炎症痤疮症状,缩短皮损红肿消退时间和皮损痊愈时间。     

Newer topical therapies for the treatment of acne vulgaris

Newer topical therapies approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of acne vulgaris are dapsone gel 5% and clindamycin phosphate 1.2% and tretinoin 0.025% combination gel. Both are formulated in aqueous-based gel vehicles. These newer topical acne products have been shown to be effective and safe in pivotal 12-week phase 3 trials and long-term studies completed over 12 months. This article reviews applicable pharmacokinetic, efficacy, and safety data reported with both products.     

Adapalene–benzoyl peroxide, a unique fixed-dose combination topical gel for the treatment of acne vulgaris: a transatlantic, randomized, double-blind, controlled study in 1670 patients

Background  Combination therapy utilizing agents with complementary mechanisms of action is recommended by acne guidelines to help simultaneously target multiple pathogenic factors. A unique, topical, fixed-dose combination gel with adapalene 0·1% and benzoyl peroxide (BPO) 2·5% has recently been developed for the once-daily treatment of acne.
Objectives  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of adapalene 0·1%–BPO 2·5% fixed-dose combination gel (adapalene–BPO) relative to adapalene 0·1% monotherapy (adapalene), BPO 2·5% monotherapy (BPO), and the gel vehicle (vehicle) in a large population for the treatment of acne vulgaris.
Methods  In total, 1670 subjects were randomized in a double-blind controlled trial to receive adapalene–BPO, adapalene, BPO or vehicle for 12 weeks (1 : 1 : 1 : 1 randomization). Evaluations included success rate (subjects 'clear' or 'almost clear'), percentage change in lesion count from baseline, cutaneous tolerability and adverse events.
Results  Adapalene–BPO was significantly more effective than corresponding monotherapies, with significant differences in percentage lesion count change observed as early as 1 week. Cutaneous tolerability profile was similar to adapalene. Adverse events were more frequent with the combination therapy (mainly due to an increase in mild-to-moderate dry skin), occurred early in the study, and were transient.
Conclusions  Adapalene–BPO provides significantly greater and synergistic efficacy and a faster onset of action with an acceptable safety profile in the treatment of acne vulgaris when compared with the corresponding vehicle and the adapalene and BPO monotherapies.     

Benzoylperoxide versus topical erythromycin in the treatment of acne vulgaris

In a double-blind clinical study in ninety-four subjects a 1.5% (w/v) erythromycin lotion was as effective as 5% (w/v) benzoyl peroxide gel in significantly reducing the number of small inflamed lesions and the overall acne severity. However, benzoyl peroxide also significantly reduced the number of non-inflamed lesions whereas erythromycin had no effect on these lesions. This study supports the view that, although topical erythromycin is of value in the treatment of mild or moderate acne vulgaris, long established, safe and effective remedies should not be replaced by topical antibiotics until more comparative studies and investigations on bacterial resistance have been completed.     

Tazarotene gel is safe and effective in the treatment of acne vulgaris: a multicenter, double-blind, vehicle-controlled study.

Retinoids reverse the abnormal pattern of keratinization seen in acne vulgaris. Tazarotene is the first of a novel family of topical receptor-selective acetylenic retinoids. This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of topical tazarotene 0.1% and 0.05% gels, in comparison to vehicle gel, applied once daily for 12 weeks, in the treatment of mild-to-moderate facial acne vulgaris. A total of 446 patients with facial acne vulgaris were enrolled, and 375 patients, ranging in age from 14 to 44 years, were evaluable in this multicenter, double-blind, randomized study. In comparison to vehicle gel, treatment with tazarotene 0.1% gel resulted in significantly greater reductions in noninflammatory and total lesion counts at all follow-up visits, and inflammatory lesion counts at Week 12. Tazarotene 0.05% gel resulted in significantly greater reductions in noninflammatory and total lesion counts than vehicle gel at Weeks 8 and 12. At Week 12, treatment success rates were 68% and 51% for tazarotene 0.1% and 0.05%, respectively (40% for vehicle gel). Tazarotene gel was an effective, safe, and generally well-tolerated therapy for the treatment of acne vulgaris.     

Efficacy of combined topical treatment of acne vulgaris with adapalene and nadifloxacin: a randomized study

Topical retinoid and antibiotic combination therapy is an integral part of acne treatment and is considered the appropriate first-line therapy according to the Japanese guideline for moderate and severe acne. In this combination, clindamycin or doxycycline are mostly used as antibiotics, but there have been no reports on the effectiveness of nadifloxacin, a widely used antibiotic in Japan and European countries for acne, in combination with topical retinoid. To confirm the efficacy and safety of adapalene gel and nadifloxacin cream in the treatment of Japanese patients with acne vulgaris, a total of 50 patients were randomized to the two groups, the combination therapy and the adapalene monotherapy, and each therapy was tested for 8 weeks. The percentage reduction in the number of inflammatory acne lesions was evaluated and the safety was monitored through adverse events. The combination of adapalene gel and nadifloxacin cream produced a significantly higher reduction in the inflammatory lesions at 2 weeks (P = 0.047) and at 8 weeks (P = 0.011) after the starting than did adapalene gel monotherapy. The combination did not elevate the side effects of erythema and scale scores, but rather significantly depressed erythema at 1 week. This study showed the efficacy and safety of the combination therapy of nadifloxacin cream with adapalene gel for the inflammatory acne.     

Variation in comedonal antibiotic concentrations following application of topical tetracycline for acne vulgaris

A miniaturized sensitive bioassay was used to detect tetracycline in open comedones following topical twice daily application of 0.22% tetracycline hydrochloride for a minimum of 4 weeks to the facial skin of patients with mild to moderate acne. The lower limit of detection was 4.8±0.8 ng per comedone or per 10 μl. Using this method. Ill of 155 open comedones from 15 patients were found to contain a detectable amount of tetracycline, ranging from 1.8 to 156.9 ng per comedone, and between 4.5 and 1140.1 ng per mg comedonal material. There was a significant effect of comedone weight on tetracycline content, with smaller comedones containing proportionately more tetracycline. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient was ?0.5619 (P < 0.001). All III comedones in which tetracycline was detected contained sufficient drug to inhibit fully antibiotic-sensitive propionibacteria. However, conditions favourable to the selection and overgrowth of highly tetracycline-resistant strains (MIC ≥ 32 μg/ml) prevailed in at least 18.7% (29 of 155) of the comedones tested.     

Topical taurine bromamine, a new candidate in the treatment of moderate inflammatory acne vulgaris: a pilot study

Taurine bromamine (TauBr), the product of taurine and hypobromous acid (HOBr), exerts anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Recently we have shown that Propionibacterium acnes, a potential pathogenic agent of acne, is extremely sensitive to TauBr. As topical antibiotics are associated with the emergence of resistant bacteria, TauBr seems to be a good candidate for topical therapy for acne vulgaris. In our double blind investigation, the efficacy and safety of 3.5 mM TauBr cream was evaluated. 1% Clindamycin gel (Clindacin T), one of the most common topical agents in the treatment of acne vulgaris, was used as a control. Forty patients with mild to moderate inflammatory facial acne vulgaris were randomly treated with either TauBr or clindamycin for 6 weeks, twice-a-day. More than 80% of the patients markedly improved with both treatments, without any adverse effects observed. Both TauBr and clindamycin produced a significant reduction in inflammatory skin lesion counts (papules/ pustules). After 6 weeks, comparable reductions of acne lesions, 65% and 68%, were observed in the TauBr and clindamycin groups, respectively. In conclusion, these data support our concept that TauBr can be used as a topical agent in the treatment of acne vulgaris, especially in patients who have already developed antibiotic resistance.     

异维A酸红霉素凝胶治疗寻常痤疮的多中心随机对照临床研究

目的 比较异维A酸红霉素凝胶与阿达帕林凝胶治疗轻中度寻常痤疮的疗效和安全性。方法 多中心、开放、随机、平行对照研究。按照中国痤疮治疗指南痤疮严重程度标准入选轻、中度（Ⅰ ~ Ⅲ级）寻常痤疮患者192例,纳入疗效分析169例,安全性分析190例。试验组86例,外用异维A酸红霉素凝胶;对照组83例,外用阿达帕林凝胶,均为每晚1次,共用药6周。在基线、治疗2、4和6周时分别记录患者白头粉刺、黑头粉刺、炎性丘疹、脓疱数,评价各时间点患者痤疮严重程度,同时记录皮肤局部耐受性以及其他不良反应。结果 随着治疗时间延长,两组的有效率逐渐提高,总体病情严重程度改善。在治疗6周时,试验组总有效率为51.16%,对照组为40.96%,两组差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）;但在治疗4周及6周时,试验组患者脓疱及炎性皮损的疗效优于对照组（P < 0.05）,同时试验组痤疮分级较对照组低（P < 0.01）。两组不良反应类似,均表现为局部刺激,可耐受。结论 异维A酸红霉素凝胶治疗轻、中度寻常痤疮总有效率与阿达帕林凝胶类似,对于炎性损害疗效优于阿达帕林凝胶,并且对患者总体严重程度降低更快。     

Skin microbiome and acne vulgaris: Staphylococcus,a new actor in acne

Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), the sebaceous gland and follicular keratinocytes are considered the three actors involved in the development of acne. This exploratory study investigated the characteristics of the skin microbiota in subjects with acne and determined microbiota changes after 28 days of application of erythromycin 4% or a dermocosmetic. Skin microbiota were collected under axenic conditions from comedones, papulo‐pustular lesions and non‐lesional skin areas from subjects with mild to moderate acne according to the GEA grading using swabs. Samples were characterized using a high‐throughput sequencing approach that targets a portion of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. Overall, microbiota samples from 26 subjects showed an overabundance of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes and an under‐representation of Actinobacteria. Staphylococci were more abundant on the surface of comedones, papules and pustules (P=.004 and P=.003 respectively) than on non‐lesional skin. Their proportions increased significantly with acne severity (P<.05 between GEA‐2 and GEA‐3). Propionibacteria represented less than 2% of the bacteria on the skin surface. At Day 28, only the number of Actinobacteria had decreased with erythromycin while the dermocosmetic decreased also the number of Staphylococci. A significant reduction (P<.05) from Day 0 of comedones, papules and pustules with no significant difference between the products was observed. The bacterial diversity on all sampling areas was similar. The dermocosmetic decreased the number of Actinobacteria and Staphylococcus spp. after 28 days. Staphylococcus remained the predominant genus of the superficial skin microbiota. No significant reduction in Staphylococcus spp. was observed with the topical antibiotic.     

皮肤微生态与寻常痤疮：关于葡萄球菌在痤疮发病中的新认识

人体皮肤上定植的微生物借助天然和获得性免疫系统的复杂信息交换与宿主保持共生关系, 即微生态平衡, 是健康皮肤所必需的。在皮肤上已鉴定出有四个主要的细菌门:放线菌门、厚壁菌门、变形菌门和拟杆菌门。最常见的三个菌属是棒状杆菌属、丙酸杆菌属和葡萄球菌属。     

Combination effects of cosmetic moisturisers in the topical treatment of acne vulgaris

Cosmetic moisturisers were applied to one side of the face of 18 male Japanese patients with acne vulgaris who were treated with a topical administration of adapalene and clindamycin phosphate gels. We assessed the alleviating effect of the moisturisers on the side effects of the treatment. The severity of acne and the number of inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions were measured at 0, 2, and 4 weeks. The water content in the stratum corneum and transepidermal water loss were measured by comparing the moisturiser-treated and untreated sides of the face. The sensation of skin dryness and irritation on both sides of the face were assessed by the subjects. We observed that the use of moisturisers did not impact the efficacy of the standard topical treatment and they significantly improved the water content in the stratum corneum and the sensation of dryness. These results suggested that the use of moisturisers in combination with the standard topical treatment may improve adherence to therapy by alleviating the sensation of dryness.     

维胺酯和异维A酸治疗寻常痤疮随机双盲研究

目的 评价维胺酯胶囊和异维A酸胶丸治疗中重度寻常痤疮的疗效和安全性.方法 采用多中心、随机、双肓双模拟、对照临床研究,按痤疮综合分析系统(GAGS)评价痤疮的严重程度,将评分确定为中重度痤疮的患者随机分为维胺酯组(50mg,每日3次)和异维A酸组(10mg,每日2次),于服药前、服药后2、4、6周计数皮损,观察疗效和不良反应.结果 共入组227例,计入全分析集(FAS)分析213例,符合方案集(PPS)分析200例.PPS分析治疗后2、4、6周异维A酸组有效率分别为6.0%、29.0%、57.0%;维胺酯组分别为5.0%、20.0%、51.00%,两组比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).各随访期皮损数下降值比较,除异维A酸组炎性丘疹和脓疱数下降值高于维胺酯组(P<0.05)外,粉刺、结节类皮损数两组差异无统计学意义.FAS分析不良反应发生率异维A酸组(68.81%)显著高于维胺酯组(36.53%)(P<0.001),常见不良反应如口干、口唇脱屑异维A酸组发生率显著高于维胺酯组(P<0.001),不良反应的程度也明显重于维胺酯组(P<0.05).结论 异维A酸和维胺酯治疗中重度痤疮疗效较为一致,但异维A酸治疗炎性皮疹起效较快,同时其常见不良反应也多于维胺酯.     

Oral zinc sulphate therapy in acne vulgaris: a double-blind trial

The effect of zinc sulphate and placebo was compared in a double-blind trial in 56 patients suffering from acne vulgaris. Serum vitamin A levels were studied in all, before and at the end of therapy, 29 patients received zinc sulphate 600 mg daily and 27 patients received placebo. Patients on placebo showed no improvement. After 12 weeks of treatment with zinc sulphate, 17 patients (58%) showed significant improvement. There was a statistically significant decrease in the number of papules, infiltrates and cysts. In zinc-treated cases there was statistically significant increase in serum vitamin A levels, while no change was found in the placebo group.