Evaluation of the Quantitative and Qualitative Alterations in the Fatty Acid Contents of the Sebum of Patients with Inflammatory Acne during Treatment with Systemic Lymecycline and/or Oral Fatty Acid Supplementation

Abstract

Background. Acne is a dermatosis that involves an altered sebum pattern. Objectives. (1) To evaluate if a treatment based on antibiotics (lymecycline) can alter fatty acids contents of the sebum of patients with acne; (2) to evaluate if oral supplementation of fatty acids can interfere with fatty acids contents of the sebum of patients with acne; (3) to evaluate if there is any interaction in fatty acids contents of the sebum of patients with acne when they use both antibiotics and oral supplementation of fatty acids. Methods. Forty-five male volunteers with inflammatory acne vulgaris were treated with 300 mg of lymecycline per day, with 540 mg of γ-linolenic acid, 1,200 mg of linoleic acid, and 510 mg of oleic acid per day, or with both regimens for 90 days. Every 30 days, a sample of sebum from the forehead was collected for fatty acids' chromatographic analysis. Results. Twelve fatty acids studied exhibited some kind of pattern changes during the study: C12:0, C14:0, C15:0, C16:1, C18:0, C18:1n9c+C18:1n9t, C18:2n6t, C18:3n6, C18:3n3, C20:1, C22:0, and C24:0. Conclusions. The daily administration of lymecycline and/or specific fatty acids may slightly influence some fatty acids levels present in the sebum of patients with inflammatory acne vulgaris.

A case series evaluating the impact of a combination treatment for acne vulgaris containing linoleic acid, linolenic acid, and lecithin

“…Recently, clinical trials showed dietary omega-3 fatty acid and/or linoleic acid could be used as adjuvant treatments for acne patients, supporting further research in this area. 4,5 However, the effects of dietary supplementation may be limited as active constituents that can reach the skin to function are limited. Therefore, we invented a bionic care cream that can be directly applied to the skin which consists of 20% linolenic acid, 60% linoleic acid, and 2% lecithin.…”

“…Recently, clinical trials showed dietary omega‐3 fatty acid and/or linoleic acid could be used as adjuvant treatments for acne patients, supporting further research in this area 4,5 . However, the effects of dietary supplementation may be limited as active constituents that can reach the skin to function are limited.…”

Significance of Diet and Oral Supplementation in Acne Vulgaris

“…After the period of study researchers found improvement in 62% of patients. 19,21 Costa et al 22 investigated the effects of oral fatty acids supplementation in acne patients. Patients were treated with antibiotics (lymecycline) (300 mg per day) and oral supplements (540 mg of GLA, 1,200 mg of linoleic acid, and 510 mg of oleic acid per day).…”