A study of the efficacy of cleansers for acne vulgaris.
BACKGROUND
Acne treatments are sometimes expensive, and mild acne patients need some simpler form of treatment and, thus, the need for easier and cheaper ways of managing acne is increasing.


METHODS
An 8-week, double-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted to determine whether cleansers are effective at producing clinical improvements in patients with acne vulgaris. A total of 13 acne patients applied cleanser A to one half of the face and cleanser B (cleanser A plus triclosan, salicylic acid, and azelaic acid) to the other half, twice daily.


RESULTS
The numbers of inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions decreased on both sides. A rebound tendency was noted for cleanser A with respect to inflammatory lesions at 4 weeks post-discontinuation, whereas inflammatory lesions continued to decrease on sides treated with cleanser B during this period. However, non-inflammatory lesion counts were not significantly different in the two groups. Though patients were generally satisfied with both treatments, they were more satisfied with cleanser B. Moreover, histopathologic examinations showed a profound decrease in inflammatory reactions in the cleanser B group.


CONCLUSIONS
These results show that acne cleansers reduced both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne lesion counts, and might be helpful for acne treatment.
Choi
Yu Sung
YS
Department of Dermatology, Ulsan University Hospital, Ulsan, Korea.
Suh
Ho Seok
HS
Yoon
Mi Young
MY
Min
Seong Uk
SU
Kim
Jin Sook
JS
Jung
Jae Yoon
JY
Lee
Dong Hun
DH
Suh
Dae Hun
DH
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D003902:Detergents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003998:Dicarboxylic Acids; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010206:Papain / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011336:Probability; D020156:Salicylic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012869:Skin Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D017592:Skin Care / Q000379:methods*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014260:Triclosan / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
D003902:Detergents; D003998:Dicarboxylic Acids; D014260:Triclosan; D010206:Papain; C010038:azelaic acid; D020156:Salicylic Acid