title: RALGA (Diacneal) decreases melanin content in a human skin model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Retinaldehyde and glycolic acid RALGA (Diacneal) are both effective in the topical treatment of acne. A decrease in the postinflammatory pigmentation has been observed after application of Diacneal during 3 months.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To verify the effect of this association on pigmentation using an original model of surviving human skin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human skin explants were maintained alive in organ culture for 14 days. Diacneal was applied every day. Pigmentation of skin, depending on the transfer of melanosomes from melanocytes to keratinocytes, was visualized histologically by Fontana-Masson staining. The number of melanocytes was determined after the DOPA reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A decrease in melanin content was shown after application of Diacneal. The number of melanocytes was not modified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that RALGA (Diacneal) may be of interest to prevent the postinflammatory pigmentation of acne.
authors.affiliation: Service de Stomatologie Maxillo-Faciale du Prof. J.C. Bertrand, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France. sylvie.boisnic@ap-hop-paris.fr
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boisnic
authors.forename: Marie-Christine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Branchet-Gumila
authors.forename: Thérèse
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nocera
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Verrière
mesh_terms: D002452:Cell Count; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004817:Epidermis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D006016:Glycolates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007980:Levodopa; D008543:Melanins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D020460:Melanosomes / Q000187:drug effects; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D012172:Retinaldehyde / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006016:Glycolates; D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D008543:Melanins; C501639:diacneal; C031149:glycolic acid; D007980:Levodopa; D012172:Retinaldehyde