Sodium L-ascorbyl-2-phosphate 5% lotion for the treatment of acne vulgaris: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Antioxidants are becoming increasingly important in the treatment of skin disease. In addition to their known anti-inflammatory effects, antioxidants may act to prevent the oxidation of sebum which has been proposed to be comedogenic in acne patients. Sodium L-ascorbyl-2-phosphate (APS) is a stable vitamin C derivative and highly effective antioxidant that has demonstrated efficacy in acne in open label studies.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of APS 5% lotion for the treatment of acne in a blinded controlled study.


METHODS
A total of 50 subjects were randomized in a double-blind controlled trial to receive APS 5% lotion or vehicle for 12 weeks. Evaluation included an Investigator's Global Assessment Score, a Subjects' Global Assessment Score, lesion counts, cutaneous tolerability, and adverse events.


RESULTS
APS 5% lotion demonstrated statistically significant improvement when compared to vehicle in all of the parameters measured. The adverse event frequency and cutaneous tolerability profile for APS 5% lotion were similar to vehicle.


CONCLUSIONS
Adjunctive topical or oral agents and their impact on acne were not studied in this trial.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that 5% sodium L-ascorbyl-2-phosphate is efficacious as monotherapy for the treatment of acne. APS 5% lotion offers a novel addition to our current acne armamentarium.
Woolery-Lloyd
Heather
H
University of Miami, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, Cosmetic Medicine and Research Institute, Miami, FL 33140, USA. woolerylloyd@yahoo.com
Baumann
Leslie
L
Ikeno
Hiroshi
H
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009824:Ointments / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010710:Phosphates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000975:Antioxidants; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D009824:Ointments; D010710:Phosphates; C011669:ascorbate-2-phosphate; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; C018279:sodium phosphate