title: Comparative study of the effect of 50% pyruvic and 30% salicylic peels on the skin lipid film in patients with acne vulgaris.
abstract: Pyruvic (alfa-keto acid) and salicylic (beta-hydroxy acid) acids are superficial peels frequently used in patients with acne vulgaris.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to compare the effect of 50% pyruvic and 30% salicylic peels on facial sebum secretion in patients with acne vulgaris, aged 13-30.
  
  
  METHODS
  The level of secreted sebum was determined in 20 men and women. Ten patients were treated with 50% pyruvic acid and the remaining 10 with 30% salicylic acid. Each peel was applied five times at 2-week intervals. The sebum measurements were taken in the T- and U-zones using a Sebumeter SM 815 (Courage & Khazaka, Germany). The last, sixth measurement was taken 2 weeks after the treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A statistically significant decrease in the level of secreted sebum in both U- and T- zones was observed in the patients studied after the third application of 50% pyruvic peel and the second application of 30% salicylic peel. Two weeks following the completion of therapy, sebumetric measurements demonstrated a greater reduction in the facial skin lipid film among the patients treated with salicylic peel.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Peels with 50% pyruvic acid and 30% salicylic acid are the procedures that significantly contributed to a decrease in the level of secreted sebum on the facial skin surface in the group of patients studied. A greater therapeutic effect was observed following 30% salicylic peel, which might be associated with its high lipophilic properties and easier penetration through the lipid barriers of the epidermis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cosmetology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marczyk
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mucha
authors.forename: Elżbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Budzisz
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rotsztejn
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D000293:Adolescent; D002610:Cheek; D002615:Chemexfoliation / Q000379:methods*; D002680:Chin; D005260:Female; D005546:Forehead; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D019289:Pyruvic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020156:Salicylic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012629:Sebum / Q000378:metabolism*; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D019289:Pyruvic Acid; D020156:Salicylic Acid
keywords: acne vulgaris; pyruvic peel; salicylic peel; sebumeter