title: Combination therapy with retinaldehyde (0.1%) glycolic acid (6%) and efectiose (0.1%) in mild to moderate acne vulgaris during the period of sun exposure--efficacy and skin tolerability.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Acne vulgaris is the most common disease of the adolescence age (70-94%). Main topical treatments for acne vulgaris are retinoids, benzoyl peroxide and antibiotics in mono or combination therapy. Topical retinoids, some antibiotics and antiseptics although effective on acne lesions, can due photosensitivity or make the skin more sensitive to the sun. Our study is aimed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a combination therapy with Retinaldheyde (0.1%), Glycolic acid (6%) and Efectiose (0.1%) (RGE) cream in patients affected by acne vulgaris, during the lasting period of sun exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively observed 30 patients of Central Italy with mild or moderate acne between April and September. All the patients selected underwent only therapy with RGE cream once a day in the evening for 8 weeks, while in the morning they just applied SPF 50 sunscreen. We evaluate the efficacy at 30 and 60 days with the "Global Evaluation Scale" (GES) and the tolerability with a 0-3 qualitative scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean GES value showed a statistically significant reduction: 1.83 (SD 0.83) at baseline 1.57 (SD 0.77) and 0.90 (SD 0.76) respectively at 30 and 60 days (p < 0.01). Side effects were very uncommon.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical treatments with retinoids, antibiotics and antiseptics can be associated with an increased occurrence of facial dryness and erythema restricting their use in sun exposure period. RGE cream has shown a good skin tolerability and efficacy, so it can be considerate an effective maintaining therapy to treat mild to moderate acne during the sun exposure period in which retinoids, antibiotics or antiseptic treatments are not recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, School of Medicine, Rome, Italy. fraric1984@gmail.com.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Masini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fossati
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Frascione
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Capizzi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Waure
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guerriero
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006016:Glycolates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012172:Retinaldehyde / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects; D016082:Solar System; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006016:Glycolates; D013473:Sunscreening Agents; C031149:glycolic acid; D012172:Retinaldehyde