licochalcone-a and Acne-Vulgaris

Depending on disease severity, standard acne treatments can vary from topical to systemic therapy. However, poor compliance caused by adverse events and antibiotic resistance is a major cause of treatment failure.. To determine the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with intense pulsed light (IPL) in the treatment of acne when combined with a cream containing licochalcone A, L-carnitine and decanediol (so-called, 'active formulation') versus PDT alone.. Twenty-nine volunteers, aged 21-39 years (26 women and 3 men, mean age 29.41 ± 5.24 years), with mild to severe facial acne, were enrolled. Each subject's face sides were randomized in a split-face manner to either receive PDT (IPL with a 400-720 nm cut-off filter, at 4 sessions with two-week intervals) combined with the active formulation cream twice daily for 10 weeks on one face side; or PDT and the vehicle cream on the other side, with the same treatment protocol. Reduction in acne quantity, melanin index and erythema index were assessed 2 weeks after the second treatment (day 28), 1 week after the fourth treatment (day 49), and 1 month after the fourth treatment (day 70).. Compared to baseline, patients in the active formulation group demonstrated a faster onset of reduction in the number of lesions at 2 weeks after the second treatment (p=0.010 for inflammatory acne and p=0.001 for non-inflammatory acne). A significantly greater reduction in lesion count was observed in the active formulation group compared with the vehicle group at all timepoints of evaluation for noninflammatory acne (day 28, day 49, and day 70; p=0.003, 0.005 and 0.002 respectively), and at 1 month after the fourth treatment for inflammatory acne (p=0.036). Compared to the vehicle group, the melanin index of the active formulation group decreased significantly at 1 month after the fourth treatment (p=0.015).. PDT is more effective in treating acne when combined with a topical cream containing licochalcone A, L-carnitine and decanediol, than PDT alone. Significant acne reduction and improvements in post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation were observed, which offers acne patients a better therapeutic option. It is a safe and effective combination treatment for patients with moderate and severe acne.

Topics: Acne Vulgaris; Adult; Carnitine; Chalcones; Double-Blind Method; Face; Fatty Alcohols; Female; Humans; Male; Photochemotherapy; Skin Cream; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult

Topical retinoids are considered to be the first-line agents and maintenance therapy of acne; however, irritation side effects are major concern issues. Noncomedogenic moisturizers are sometimes added to relieve cutaneous irritations. This study aimed to compare tolerability and efficacy of moisturizers containing licochalcone A, l-carnitine and 1,2-decanediol (active formulation) with a placebo in mild to moderate severe acne in Asian subjects.. This was an 8-week double-blind, prospective, randomized controlled study. All patients (n = 120) were randomized equally into three groups: (A) adapalene gel, (B) adapalene gel with the active formulation and (C) adapalene gel with the placebo. The severity of acne, skin bioengineering measurements and skin tolerability were recorded during the study.. Compared to baseline, the active formulation group showed significant reductions in inflammatory lesions and total lesions at the end of the study without flare-up. Moreover, skin irritations were less detected than in the other two groups by corneometer and transepidermal water loss measurements.. The concomitant usage of adapalene gel and the moisturizer containing licochalcone A, l-carnitine and 1,2-decanediol could reduce undesirable side effects without interfering the efficacy of adapalene. This moisturizer may be superior to placebo to prevent cutaneous irritations and enhance patients' adherence to acne medications.

Topics: Acne Vulgaris; Adapalene; Administration, Topical; Adult; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Chalcones; Dermatologic Agents; Double-Blind Method; Female; Gels; Humans; Male; Medication Adherence; Prospective Studies; Skin; Young Adult

Inflammation, increased sebum production and P. acnes colonization are key factors in acne pathogenesis. Cosmetic formulations based on a combination of active compounds with in vitro proven anti-inflammatory, sebum regulating and P. acnes reducing properties may therefore contribute to improve the clinical signs and associated burden of disease.. To provide in vivo proof-of-concept, we performed a 9-week, double-blind, randomized, vehicle-controlled study to assess the stand-alone efficacy of a skin care formulation containing licochalcone A, l-carnitine and 1,2-decanediol in volunteers with mild to moderately severe acne (10-25 inflammatory lesions) involving the face.. After enrolment followed by a 1-week standardization of the cleansing procedure, 60 volunteers aged 14-40 years (40 women and 20 men, mean age 22.4 years) were randomized into two groups of 30 volunteers each, to apply either the active formulation or the vehicle twice daily on the face for 8 weeks. Reduction in the lesion count, P. acnes and sebum levels, stratum corneum hydration, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and skin tolerability, assessed after 4 and 8 weeks were defined as outcomes.. Compared to baseline, the active formulation group showed at the end of the study a reduction in the mean total lesions count and papular lesions, significant reduction in the pustules (P < 0.05) and sebum levels (P < 0.01), marked reduction in P. acnes and improvement of DLQI. No significant changes in the respective parameters were found in the vehicle group. At the end of the study, greater reduction in the total lesion count, papules and pustules, P. acnes colonization, sebum production and more pronounced improvement of life quality in the active formulation group compared to the vehicle were found.. Our results provide evidence for improved outcomes in result of the application of the active formulation compared to the vehicle from both physician's and patient's perspective.

Topics: Acne Vulgaris; Adolescent; Adult; Carnitine; Chalcones; Double-Blind Method; Drug Combinations; Fatty Alcohols; Female; Glycols; Humans; Male; Pharmaceutical Vehicles; Prospective Studies; Severity of Illness Index; Young Adult

A better understanding of skin lipidomics and its alteration under treatment administration might offer therapeutic solutions for seborrhea.. To quantitatively and qualitatively explore the lipid-modifying effect of the moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid (LDCS) in seborrhea participants with and without acne vulgaris (AV).. We conducted an open-label explorative study on 20 seborrhea participants (10 AV and 10 non-AV). All participants applied LDCS for 8 weeks with the addition of benzoyl peroxide 2.5% gel and adapalene 0.1%/benzoyl peroxide 2.5% gel in AV. Skin surface lipid (SSL) assessments were performed biweekly, using Sebumeter® and lipid-absorbent Sebutapes® to collect forehead SSL for profile analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).. SSL amount significantly decreased since week 2 in AV (p-value = 0.0124) and week 6 in non-AV (p-value = 0.0098), respectively. Twenty-two important SSLs were annotated from GC-MS analysis, comprising 19 free fatty acids, cholesterol, squalene, and glycerol. There was a significant reduction in 5 and 13 lipid components in AV and non-AV groups, respectively.. LDCS, either alone or with topical acne treatment, demonstrated substantial sebusuppressive and lipid-modifying effects among seborrhea participants.

Topics: Acne Vulgaris; Adapalene; Benzoyl Peroxide; Carnitine; Dermatitis, Seborrheic; Dermatologic Agents; Gels; Humans; Lipidomics; Lipids; Salicylic Acid; Treatment Outcome

Activation of the NACHT, LRR and PYD domains-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome by Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) is critical for inducing inflammation and aggravating the development of acne lesions. We searched for available small-molecule inhibitors of the NLRP3 inflammasome that could be topically administered for the treatment of acne. We found that licochalcone A, a chalconoid isolated from the root of Glycyrrhiza inflate, was an effective inhibitor for P. acnes-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Licochalcone A blocked P. acnes-induced production of caspase-1(p10) and IL-1β in primary mouse macrophages and human SZ95 sebocytes, indicating the suppression of NLRP3 inflammasome. Licochalcone A suppressed P. acnes-induced ASC speck formation and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. Topical application of licochalcone A to mouse ear skin attenuated P. acnes-induced skin inflammation as shown by histological assessment, ear thickness measurement, and inflammatory gene expression. Licochalcone A reduced caspase-1 activity and IL-1β production in mouse ear injected with P. acnes. This study demonstrated that licochalcone A is effective in the control of P. acnes-induced skin inflammation as an efficient inhibitor for NLRP3 inflammasome. Our study provides a new paradigm for the development of anti-acne therapy via targeting NLRP3 inflammasome.

Topics: Acne Vulgaris; Animals; Cells, Cultured; Chalcones; Humans; Inflammasomes; Inflammation; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; Propionibacterium acnes; Reactive Oxygen Species; Skin