ABSTRACT
A major component to the etiology of acne is the growth and invasion by Propionibacterium acnes. Hydrogen peroxide is an excellent antimicrobial agent but is unstable in most formulations. We have developed a hydrogen peroxide generation system using the enzyme glucose oxidase and glucose. This system is stable in a simple formulation and nonirritating. In a short-term clinical study (4 days), this formulation was effective in reducing the individual lesion size and total number of inflammatory acne lesions. There was a 68% reduction in acne-induced inflammation and 61% reduction in acne size within 4 days of treatment. A long-term clinical study (6 weeks in use) displayed 56% reduction in total number of inflamed lesions and a 45% reduction in noninflamed lesions after 6 weeks. This suggests that topical enzymatically generated hydrogen peroxide may help alleviate acne.
Subject(s)
Acne Vulgaris/drug therapy , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Glucose Oxidase/metabolism , Glucose/metabolism , Hydrogen Peroxide/therapeutic use , Administration, Topical , Adult , Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage , Bacteria/drug effects , Benzoyl Peroxide , Chemistry, Pharmaceutical , Female , Glucose Oxidase/chemistry , Humans , Hydrogen Peroxide/administration & dosage , Middle Aged , Young AdultABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Normal human skin can produce a range of antimicrobial chemicals that play an important part in eliminating potential cutaneous pathogens. Lactobacillus plantarum is a gram-positive bacteria that produces antimicrobial peptides, which when applied to the skin can act like an anti-inflammatory as well as enhance the antimicrobial properties of the skin. Clinical studies were conducted to determine the effect of lactobacillus extract on improvement of skin barrier and reduction of erythema from chemical irritant, skin microflora, and acne. Results show that lactobacillus extract was effective in reducing skin erythema, repairing skin barrier, and reducing skin microflora, thereby exhibiting an effective reduction in acne lesion size and erythema at 5%, but not at 1%. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of these studies, lactobacillus extract (5%) can be used to treat mild acne lesions.
Subject(s)
Acne Vulgaris/drug therapy , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Complex Mixtures/pharmacology , Lactobacillus plantarum/chemistry , Probiotics/chemistry , Skin/drug effects , Acne Vulgaris/metabolism , Acne Vulgaris/pathology , Administration, Cutaneous , Bacterial Load , Biological Transport/drug effects , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Female , Humans , Male , Skin/metabolism , Skin/pathology , Skin Tests , Triclosan/pharmacology , Water/metabolismABSTRACT
Fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone during the menstrual cycle can cause changes in body systems other than the reproductive system. We conducted several studies to determine a possible correlation between phases of the menstrual cycle and specific skin properties. Healthy Caucasian women (ages 21-48), who had a typical 26-29 day menstrual cycle, participated in the studies. Measurements of skin barrier strength, dryness, response to lactic acid stinging, skin surface lipids, and microflora were obtained every week for two to three months. Ultraviolet B susceptibility in terms of minimal erythemal dose was also studied. The skin barrier was the weakest between days 22 and 26 of the cycle. Elevated neuronal response (lactic acid sting) was not observed to vary much with the cycle. Skin was driest between day 1 and day 6, while skin surface lipid secretion appeared to be highest on days 16-20 of the hormonal cycle. The highest microbial count was around days 16-22, and there was a high UV-B susceptibility between days 20 and 28 of the menstrual cycle.