title: Combination therapy with hydrogen peroxide (4%), salicylic acid (0.5%) and D-panthenol (4%): efficacy and skyn tolerability in common acne vulgaris during sun exposure period.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Acne vulgaris is a disease of the sebaceous follicle which affects up to 90% of adolescent patients. Topical retinoids, benzoyl peroxide and antibiotics are the main treatments for mild to moderate acne vulgaris. The use of such topical treatments is often associated with local irritation and dryness making the skin more sensitive to the sun. The aim of our study was to assess the efficacy and skin tolerability of a fixed-dose combination therapy with hydrogen peroxide (4%), Salicylic acid (0.5%) and D-panthenol (4%) (HSD) gel, in mild-moderate acne vulgaris, during the period of sun exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively observed 30 patients of Central Italy with mild to moderate acne between April and September 2012. All the patients selected underwent only therapy with HSD gel once a day in the evening for 60 days, 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: 2.03 (SD 0.81) at baseline, 1.63 (SD 0.81) and 0.90 (SD 0.71) respectively at 30 and 60 days (p < 0.01). 21 (70%) and 27 patients (90%) did show good or very good tolerability at 30 and 60 days respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical treatments with retinoids, antibiotics and antiseptics may increase skin irritation reducing patient adherence to the treatment. HSD gel has shown a good skin tolerability and efficacy in reducing acne lesions, even during the sun exposure period in which traditional treatments should be cautiously used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. fraric1984@gmail.com.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Masini
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fossati
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Frascione
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Waure
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Capizzi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guerriero
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D010205:Pantothenic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020156:Salicylic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects; D013472:Sunlight; D013473:Sunscreening Agents; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D004338:Drug Combinations; D013473:Sunscreening Agents; D010205:Pantothenic Acid; C007288:dexpanthenol; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D020156:Salicylic Acid