Improvement of acne vulgaris by topical fullerene application: unique impact on skin care.
Oxidative stress plays a major role in acne formation, suggesting that oxygen radical scavengers are potential therapeutic agents. Fullerene is a spherical carbon molecule with strong radical sponge activity; therefore, we studied the effectiveness of fullerene gel in treating acne vulgaris. We performed an open trial using a fullerene gel twice a day; at 4 and 8 weeks, the mean number of inflammatory lesions (erythematous papules and pustules) significantly (P < 0.05) decreased from 16.09 ± 9.08 to 12.36 ± 7.03 (reduction rate 23.2%) and 10.0 ± 5.62 (reduction rate 37.8%), respectively. The number of pustules, consisting of accumulation of neutrophils, was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased from 1.45 ± 1.13 to 0.18 ± 0.60 (reduction rate 87.6%), and further in vitro assays of sebum production in hamster sebocytes revealed that 75 μM polyvinylpyrrolidone-fullerene inhibits sebum production, suggesting that fullerene suppresses acne through decreasing neutrophil infiltration and sebum production. After treatment for 8 weeks, the water content of the skin significantly (P < 0.05) increased from 51.7 ± 7.9 to 60.4 ± 10.3 instrumental units. Therefore, the fullerene gel may help in controlling acne vulgaris with skin care benefit.


BACKGROUND
Fullerenes, spherical carbon cages with strong oxygen radical scavenging, with formulated into a gel and used to successfully treat acne vulgaris, an inflammatory disease associated oxidative stress.
Inui
Shigeki
S
Department of Regenerative Dermatology, Osaka University School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan. inui@r-derma.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
Aoshima
Hisae
H
Nishiyama
Aki
A
Itami
Satoshi
S
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D005260:Female; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D037741:Fullerenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D012627:Sebaceous Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012629:Sebum / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D037741:Fullerenes