<p>The efficacy of glycolic acid, salicylic acid, gluconolactone, and licochalcone A combined with 0.1% adapalene vs adapalene monotherapy in mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris: a double-blinded within-person comparative study</p>

Abstract

Background Acne vulgaris is a common and chronic disease that impacts on physical and psychological perceptions. Cosmeceutical products are widely used as adjunct therapy to standard treatments. Objective To evaluate the efficacy of cosmeceutical products comprising glycolic acid, salicylic acid, gluconolactone, and licochalcone A as adjunct therapy to adapalene in mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris. Materials and methods A 28-day, double-blind, within-person comparative study was conducted with a total of 25 subjects. Each participant received two products, consisting of (1) a cosmeceutical product mixed with 0.1% adapalene, and (2) 0.1% adapalene, and was asked to apply them separately on each hemi-side once nightly for 28 days. The number of acne lesions, severity of acne vulgaris, physician’s and patient’s global assessment of acne severity, visual analog scale of radiance, skin biophysics, safety assessment, and VISIA ® camera system were evaluated. The primary efficacy outcome was to compare the reduction of inflammatory lesions between two treatments at day 7 by using non-inferiority comparison. Results The mean differences of inflammatory lesions reduction at day 7 between the two groups was 0.391 (90% CI = 0.253–0.530). The differences between two groups fell within our acceptable margin for the 90% CI. The spot score from VISIA ® showed higher statistically significant improvement in the combination side. Conclusion The results showed no hindrance of using a cosmeceutical combined with standard treatment. Nevertheless, this cosmeceutical product showed some benefits in reducing complications from acne. Clinical trial registration Thai Clinical Trials Registry (primary site), no. TCTR20171031005.

A Double-Blinded, Randomized, Vehicle-Controlled Study of the Efficacy of Moisturizer Containing Licochalcone A, Decanediol, L-Carnitine, and Salicylic Acid for Prevention of Acne Relapse in Asian Population

“…Skin radiance was measured on each half-face at the beginning and end of the study by patients using a visual analog scale (VAS). The minimum score is 0 (no radiance at all), and the maximum score is 10 (most radiant) [ 28 ]. Satisfaction Evaluation .…”

Chalcones in Dermatology

“…A combination of 0.1% adapalene gel and moisturizer containing licochalcone A, L-carnitine, and 1,2-decanediol also showed synergistic effect in reducing inflammatory lesions without interfering the efficacy of each active ingredient [93]. Another combination between 0.1% adapalene gel and moisturizer containing licochalcone A, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and gluconolactone even showed better results than monotherapy using only adapalene [94]. Licochalcone A, in another report, had antibacterial activity against Cutibacterium acnes and inhibited Cutibacterium acnes-mediated NLRP3 (nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich-containing family, pyrin domain-containing-3) inflammasome activation in the skin [95].…”

Expert consensus on defining sensitive skin and role of cosmeceuticals: an Indian perspective

“…Cosmeceuticals have been widely used as an adjuvant therapy for various dermatological disorders such as acne, rosacea, atopic dermatitis, and xerotic skin. [40][41][42] In patients with acne, synergistic beneficial effects have been demonstrated with the use of cosmeceuticals in combination with standard dermatological treatment. 41,43 In rosacea, appropriate skin care regimen augments therapeutic benefits of medications and helps in repair and maintenance of skin-barrier integrity.…”