title: Randomized controlled study of a cosmetic treatment for mild acne.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cosmetic products are not tested with the same rigour as medical treatments, but recent high-quality studies have shown significant reductions in changes of skin ageing with use of cosmetic antiageing products.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To test whether a cosmetic 'anti-spot' two-step treatment containing a complex of seaweed-derived oligosaccharide and zinc would produce a significant improvement in mild acne.
  
  
  METHODS
  A double-blind, vehicle-controlled trial of this treatment was performed for 8 weeks on 60 age-matched participants with mild acne. They were divided into two groups: 30 participants were treated with vehicle control and 30 with the active treatment containing a seaweed-derived oligosaccharide complexed with 0.1% zinc pyrrolidone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 8 weeks, both groups had a reduction in comedones, papules and pustules, and this was significantly greater in the active than control group at 2, 4 and 8 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cosmetic products may offer some benefit for mild acne and still meet the requirements of the European Cosmetic Directive. In particular, the seaweed-derived oligosaccharide complexed with 0.1% zinc pyrrolidone used in this study produced a significant reduction in acne vs. a control treatment. Cosmetic companies should conduct blinded controlled trials of their product's efficacy and publish the results.
authors.affiliation: San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Capitanio
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Sinagra
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Weller
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Berardesca
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012624:Seaweed / Q000737:chemistry*; D055815:Young Adult; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017967:Zinc Compounds