Efficacy of a combined chemical peel and topical salicylic acid-based gel combination in the treatment of active acne

The role of current synthetic and possible plant and marine phytochemical compounds in the treatment of acne

Acne is a long-standing skin condition characterized by plugged hair follicles due to the accumulation of dead skin cells, sebum, and Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) bacteria, causing inflammation, and the formation of pimples or lesions. Acne was recognized in the ancient times by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. Since ancient times, folk medicine from different cultures have comprised herbal and natural products for the treatment of acne. Current acne medications include antibiotics, keratolytics, corticosteroids, in addition to hormonal therapy for women. However, these conventional drugs can cause some serious side effects. And therefore, seeking new safe treatment options from natural sources is essential. Plants can be a potential source of medicinal phytochemicals which can be pharmacologically active as antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, keratolytic and sebum-reducing. Organic acids, obtained from natural sources, are commonly used as keratolytics in dermatology and cosmetology. Most of the promising phytochemicals in acne treatment belong to terpenes, terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, saponins, tannins, and essential oils. These can be extracted from leaves, bark, roots, rhizomes, seeds, and fruits of plants and may be incorporated in different dosage forms to facilitate their penetration through the skin. Additionally, medicinal compounds from marine sources can also contribute to acne treatment. This review will discuss the pathogenesis, types and consequences of acne, side effects of conventional treatment, current possible treatment options from natural sources obtained from research and folk medicine and possible applied dosage forms.

2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel vs. adapaline gel in mild to moderate acne vulgaris treatment: A multicenter, randomized, evaluator-blind, parallel-controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

Salicylic acid (SA) has been used for treatment of acne of different severity levels. However, there are few researches about the safety and efficacy for treatment of mild to moderate acne, and the improvement of the skin condition by using 2% supramolecular salicylic acid (SSA) compared to Davuwen Adapaline gel.

METHODS

A multicenter, randomized, assessor-blind and parallel-controlled study was conducted. A total of 500 patients (trial group: 249, control group: 251) with mild to moderate (grade I-II) facial acne vulgaris were recruited in this study over a 16-week trial period. Patients in the trial group were treated with Broda 2% SSA hydrogel, while control group treated with Davuwen Adapaline gel once a day. The number of inflammatory papules, comedones, and pustules were counted and the rate of lesion reduction was calculated pre- and post-treatment. Then, the skin physiological indicators, including L*a*b*, TEWL, skin sebum and hydration were measured. Statistical analysis was conducted using SAS 9.4. Significance was set at p = 0.05.

RESULTS

At the end of 12 weeks' therapy, the regression and markedly improvement rate of the trail group and the control group were 51.01% and 43.10% respectively, and there was no significant difference in the improvement rate between two groups (p = 0.0831). Although, there was no difference in adverse events rate between two groups, the adverse events rate of the trail group was 0.40%, a little lower than the control group (0.80%). Moreover, there was a significant difference in the numbers of pores at T1 between two groups.

CONCLUSION

Both 2% SSA and Adapaline gel were equally effective in the treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris. 2% SSA is worth the clinical promotion and application in mild to moderate acne vulgaris.

Exploring Acne Treatments: From Pathophysiological Mechanisms to Emerging Therapies

Acne vulgaris is a common dermatological condition that can present across different ages but predominantly affects adolescents and young adults. Characterized by various lesion types, the pathogenesis of acne is complex, involving genetic, hormonal, microbial, and inflammatory factors. This review comprehensively addresses current and emerging acne management strategies, emphasizing both topical and systemic treatments, procedural therapies, and dietary modifications. Key topical agents include retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics, and other specialized compounds. Systemic options like antibiotics, hormonal therapies, and retinoids offer significant therapeutic benefits, particularly for moderate to severe cases. Procedural treatments such as laser devices, photodynamic therapy, chemical peels, and intralesional injections present viable alternatives for reducing acne symptoms and scarring. Emerging therapies focus on novel biologics, bacteriophages, probiotics, and peptides, providing promising future options. This review underscores the importance of personalized approaches to treatment due to the multifaceted nature of acne, highlighting the potential of innovative therapies for improving patient outcomes.

On-chip electromembrane extraction using deep eutectic solvent and red-green-blue analysis by quick-response code readable customized application on a smartphone for measuring salicylic acid in pharmaceutical and plasma samples

The current work presents an on-chip electromembrane extraction (OC-EME) method using deep eutectic solvent followed by QR code-based red-green-blue (RGB) analysis for measuring salicylic acid (SA) in plasma and pharmaceutical samples. The RGB analysis was performed based on forming the SA-Fe3+ complex in the acceptor phase giving a purple solution. The QR code readable customized app provided rapid, easy, and cost-less qualification and quantification of SA with the aid of principal component analysis (PCA). Parameters affecting OC-EME, including the supported liquid membrane (SLM), pH of the donor and acceptor phases, applied voltage, and sample flow rate, were optimized. Also, the concentration of FeCl3, as a chromogenic reagent, and its reaction time with SA were investigated to find the best concentration-dependent signal. Under the optimized conditions, a good relationship was observed between the green intensity and SA concentration within the range of 1.0-100.0 mg l-1 (R2 = 0.9946) in water and 5.0-100.0 mg l-1 (R2 = 0.9902) in plasma. Intra- and inter-day RSDs% were obtained less than 4.7% and 7.7%, respectively. Finally, the method was successfully applied for measuring SA in foot corn treatment, Aspirin medicines, and human plasma, with relative recoveries between 89.0 and 129.2%.

Chemical Characterization and Antifungal Activity of Blue Tansy (Tanacetum annuum) Essential Oil and Crude Extracts against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. albedinis, an Agent Causing Bayoud Disease of Date Palm

Tanacetum annuum L. is a Mediterranean plant, commonly known as Blue Tansy due to its blue colour as an essential oil, which is widely used for medicinal purposes. However, there are no studies on the bioactive compounds (especially, phenolic compounds) and the biological properties of their organic extracts. Herein, the purpose of the present work was to investigate the chemical composition of the essential oil and crude extracts of the T. annuum aerial parts collected from northern Morocco and to evaluate their antioxidant and antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. albedinis, an agent causing Bayoud disease of the date palm, an important food source and commercial perennial crop in the Sahara and North Africa. Chemically, Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminium chloride colourimetric methods were used to determine the total phenolic (TPC) and total flavonoid (TFC) contents, respectively; polyphenols were characterized using HPLC-MS, while GC-MS was used to analyse the essential oil composition. Moreover, the evaluation of antioxidant and antifungal activities was carried out using the DPPH test and microdilution method, respectively. The results showed that the three T. annuum parts (stems, leaves and flowers) extracts contained important TPC and TFC with values varied between 51.32 and 116.32 mg/g of dry crude extract (DCE). HPLC-MS analysis revealed the identification and quantification of 19 phenolic acids and flavonoids with an emphasis on apigenin 7-glucoside (4540 µg/g of dry weight (DW)), luteolin 7-glucoside (2804 µg/g DW) and salicylic acid (1878 µg/g DW). Additionally, 39 biomolecules were identified in the essential oil using GC-MS, which were predominated by camphor (16.69%), α-pinene (12.37%), bornyl acetate (11.97%) and limonene (11.10%). The methanolic and hydro-methanolic extracts of T. annuum parts demonstrated a strong antioxidant property with IC50 values ranging between 0.22 and 0.65 mg/mL. Concerning antifungal activity, the essential oil and crude extracts of the Moroccan Blue Tansy exhibited a potent capacity against F. oxysporum f. sp. albedinis at low concentrations, with MIC and MFC values of 3.33 and 4.58 µL/mL for the essential oil and values of 3.33 and 9.17 mg/mL for crude extracts, respectively. Overall, these results demonstrated T. annuum as an important source of bioactive compounds and contribute significantly to the potential of using essential oils and extracts for controlling the Bayoud disease of date palms. Moreover, the finding suggests that T. annuum can be highly useful for phytosanitary and pharmaceutical industries.

Clinical practice Guidelines for 5-Aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy for acne vulgaris in China

A variety of evidence suggest that 5-Aminolevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) is clinically effective in management of acne vulgaris. Several clinical guidelines for acne recommend PDT as an alternative treatment modality for severe acne. However, there is a lack of detailed clinical guideline for PDT in acne treatment. To propose up-to-date, evidence-based and practical recommendations on application of ALA-PDT for acne vulgaris, dermatologists and PDT experts from the Photodynamic Therapy Research Center of the CMA and Photodynamic Therapy Rehabilitation Training Center of CARD achieved consensus and guidelines based on careful evaluation of published literature, expert opinions and experience. ALA-PDT plays a therapeutic role in all four major pathogenesis of acne, and is suitable for moderate to severe acne and scar-prone acne, especially for patients who cannot tolerate or refused systemic antibiotics and isotretinoin. The efficacy and adverse reactions of ALA-PDT are closely related to therapeutic parameters including ALA concentration, incubation time, light source and dosage. Proper pretreatment helps to improve transdermal absorption of ALA and enhances its efficacy. We reviewed and proposed recommended protocols for four PDT procedures including conventional PDT (C-PDT), modified painless PDT (M-PDT), intense pulsed light PDT (IPL-PDT) and daylight PDT (DL-PDT). M-PDT with lower ALA concentration (3-5%), shorter incubation time (30 mins), and lower dose but prolonged illumination (630nm, 40-60 mW/cm², 150 J/cm²) can improve lesions of moderate to severe acne vulgaris effectively with minimal pain and easier manipulation, and thus was recommended by Chinese dermatologists. Lastly, management of adverse reactions were addressed.

Efficacy of alpha hydroxy acid combined with intense pulsed light in the treatment of acne vulgaris: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Acne patients frequently receive combination therapy. However, there has been no rigorous review of the efficacy of combining alpha hydroxy acid with IPL for acne vulgaris treatment.

OBJECTIVE

Assessing the effectiveness and safeness of alpha hydroxy acids in combination with IPL in the treatment of people with acne vulgaris.

METHODS

A computer search of common biomedical databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, Wanfang, CNKI, SinoMed, and VIP, was extensively conducted to identify previous studies on randomized controlled trials of alpha hydroxy acid combined with IPL in the management of acne vulgaris.

RESULTS

A total of 18 publications were included (1435 patients with common acne met the inclusion criteria). The meta-analysis showed that alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) combined with IPL had higher overall efficacy than the control group (OR = 4.24; 95% CI 2.66 ~ 6.74; p < 0.01). In the case of acne vulgaris, AHA combined with IPL and the AHA alone showed a remarkable difference in total efficiency (OR = 4.10; 95% CI 2.12 ~ 7.91; p < 0.01), and AHA combined with IPL were more effective than IPL alone (OR = 4.02; 95% CI 2.25 ~ 7.16; p < 0.01). In addition, the occurrence of adverse reactions that occurred in AHA combined with IPL and control groups did not differ (OR = 0.86; 95% CI 0.46 ~ 1.60; p = 0.64).

CONCLUSION

AHA combined with IPL therapy was superior to other therapies. Although it was slightly more expensive, it was effective and had a wide range of applications.

Immunoregulation and anti-metalloproteinase bioactive injectable polysalicylate matrixgel for efficiently treating osteoarthritis

Current treatments of osteoarthritis, such as oral medication and intra-articular injections, only provided temporary relief from pain and achieved limited advance in inhibiting progression. The development of new treatments is hindered by the complicated and unclear pathological mechanisms. Oxidative stress and immune inflammation are believed to be the important factors in the induction and progression of osteoarthritis. Herein, this work presents a bioactive material strategy to treat osteoarthritis, based on the FPSOH matrixgel with robust anti-inflammatory activity through inhibiting the oxidative stress and nuclear factor kappa B signaling, preventing the metalloproteinase, as well as inducing M2 polarization of macrophage, thereby providing immune regulation of synovial macrophages and suppressing the progression of synovitis and osteoarthritis. In vivo experiments demonstrated that FPSOH hydrogel can prevent papain-induced osteoarthritis and its progression, and provide dual protection for cartilage and synovium, as compared with commercial sodium hyaluronate.