Efficacy of Oxybrasion and Cosmetic Acids on Selected Skin Parameters in the Treatment with Acne Vulgaris.

Purpose: The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an oxybrasion treatment applied alone and an oxybrasion treatment combined with cosmetic acids in improving acne-prone skin and selected skin parameters. Patients and Methods: A single-blind placebo study in a sample of 44 women diagnosed with acne vulgaris was conducted. Group A (n = 22) had a series of five oxybrasion treatments, while group B (n = 22) received a synergy of five oxybrasion treatments and a mixture of phytic, pyruvic, and lactic and lactic ferulic acids at 40% pH 1.4. Cosmetic treatments were performed every 14 days, and The Derma Unit SCC3 apparatus (Courage & Khazaka, Cologne, Germany) Sebumeter SM 815 and Corneometer CM825 and GAGS scale were used to check their effectiveness. Results: A Bonferroni post hoc test showed that group A and B did not differ from each other in acne severity before treatment (p = 1.00). However, these samples differed significantly after treatment (p < 0.001), suggesting that combined treatment of oxybrasion and cosmetic acids has a better effect than oxybrasion alone. Also, two treatment conditions (before and after) were statistically different for groups A and B separately (p < 0.001), indicating a similar efficacy of both treatments on acne severity. Conclusion: Cosmetic treatments improved acne-prone skin and selected skin parameters. Better results were obtained by combining an oxybrasion treatment with cosmetic acids. Clinical Trial Approval: The clinical trial with ID ISRCTN 28257448 approved this study.

Efficacy of Hydrogen Purification and Cosmetic Acids in the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris: A Preliminary Report.

Acne and skin lesions that appear in its course deteriorate the quality of life of patients, cause depression and the emergence of suicidal thoughts. Cosmetic treatments can have a positive effect on improving skin condition by cleaning up skin eruptions, thus improving the well-being of affected people. Hydrogen purification is a treatment that uses alkaline water generated by a device, which reduces sebum from the surface of the epidermis. This is a novel treatment that has recently been introduced to beauty salons. On the other hand, cosmetic acids have been used for many years for treating people with acne vulgaris and give spectacular results in terms of improving the skin condition. In this study, skin condition was evaluated with a Derma Unit SSC 3 device. The Global Acne Grading System (GAGS) was used to check acne severity. Twenty-four women aged 19-21 years (M = 20.13, SD = 0.80) diagnosed with mild acne vulgaris and a high sebum level participated in the study. Group A underwent a hydrogen purification treatment using an H2jet manipulator, which ejected alkaline water from the manipulator under pressure. Group B underwent a hydrogen purification treatment with the use of a phytic, pyruvic, lactic and ferulic acids at 40% mixture (pH 1.4). A series of four treatments was performed at 14-day intervals in both groups. Skin parameters were measured before and 30 days after the series of treatment. Very good results were obtained in both groups. The skin eruptions in patients were reduced and we also observed lower amounts of sebum on the surface of the epidermis, and an improvement in skin hydration. However, in group B, the results were better than in group A. The study showed that the synergy of the treatments produced much better effects than those obtained by completing the hydrogen purification treatment alone.

Efficacy of Oxybrasion in the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris: A Preliminary Report.

There are many cosmetic methods to reduce skin eruptions in people with acne vulgaris. As oxybrasion is a safe method of exfoliating dead epidermis, our objective was to investigate its effectiveness in young women with acne vulgaris. The Global Acne Grading System (GAGS) and Derma Unit SSC 3 device (Sebumeter SM 815, Corneometer CM 825) were used to assess acne vulgaris and skin properties. Twenty-four women aged 19-21 years (M = 19.50, SD = 0.66) with diagnosed mild acne vulgaris and a high level of sebum (more than 100 µg/cm2) participated in the study. Women on any dermatological treatment within the last 12 months and/or hormonal contraception were excluded. Probands were randomly assigned to two equal groups. Group A (experimental) was oxybrased with 0.9% sodium chloride solution simultaneously with compressed oxygen. Group B (placebo) was the group treated with non-carbonated mineral water and oxygen from the device (not pure). A series of five treatments was performed at 10-day intervals. Skin parameters were measured before and 30 days after the end of treatment. As a result, in group A (experimental), skin hydration and GAGS improved, while sebum on the epidermis was reduced. No side effects were noted. We concluded that oxybrasion is effective in women with acne and safe, as it improved skin parameters; however, further research is needed.

The Correlations between Follicular Fluorescence and Casual Sebum Levels in Subjects with Normal Skin.

Background: Performing objective measurements of skin oiliness requires a device that can directly measure the sebum level on the skin surface, while ultraviolet-induced red fluorescence (UVRF) can be used to indirectly assess the oiliness on the skin. There have been reports showing the association between these two methods in subjects with oily skin, acne-prone skin, but not in subjects with normal skin. Objectives: We sought to study the association between UVRF and casual sebum level in terms of assessing the facial oiliness in individuals with normal skin. Materials and Methods: Thirty subjects with normal skin were recruited for measurements of both casual sebum level and UVRF (porphyrin count) on specified areas of the face (i.e., forehead, nose, and cheek). Results: There were very strong positive correlations with statistical significance in the areas of the forehead, nose, and cheeks (r=0.88, p<0.001; r=0.89, p<0.001; and r=0.95, p<0.001, respectively) when porphyrin counts in each area were compared to those of the whole face. Porphyrin counts were also positively correlated with the casual sebum level with statistical significance on the cheeks (r=0.43, p=0.02), while the forehead and nose showed more modest correlations without statistical significance (r=0.35, p=0.06 and r=0.36, p=0.05, respectively). Conclusions: UVRF is correlated with casual sebum level. It might be useful for evaluating the facial oiliness of people with normal skin.

Effect of a botanical cleansing lotion on skin sebum and erythema of the face: A randomized controlled blinded half-side comparison.

BACKGROUND: Elevated levels of skin sebum are associated with the growth of Propionibacterium acnes. Intensive degreasing of the skin reduces Propionibacterium acnes but also may cause skin irritation. AIMS: We assessed the degreasing effect and skin tolerability of a botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract and disodium cocoyl glutamate as mild cleansing agent compared to a standard face cleanser with sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 21 healthy volunteers with normal to oily skin were enrolled in this study. Both cleansers were applied twice a day on the left or right side of the forehead for 15 days in a standardized manner. Bioengineering measurements were performed on day 8 and 15 and on day 17 after an application break of 48 hours. The sebum level was determined using a Sebumeter® , and skin redness was measured using a Mexameter® . RESULTS: The botanical face cleanser significantly reduced the sebum level (P < .01) in the test area on day 17. The SLES containing cleanser showed a statistically relevant degreasing effect already on day 15, but after the application break the sebum level increased again on day 17. None of the cleansers caused skin irritation as determined by skin redness measurements. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to the SLES containing cleanser, the botanical skin cleanser with hops and willow bark extract had a continuous degreasing effect without reactive seborrhoe after the treatment break. Skin cleansing without SLES might be advantageous for sensitive skin.

In vivo cleansing efficacy of biodegradable exfoliating beads assessed by skin bioengineering techniques.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The plastic microbeads, used in many cleansers, will be banned in cosmetic and personal care products within 2017 since they are non-degradable and can disturb the living organisms in water reservoirs. Various choices of biodegradable beads are commercially available, but their efficacy has not been proven yet. This study aimed to compare the cleansing efficacy in dirt and sebum removal aspects of three types of exfoliating beads. METHODS: The gel scrubs with polyethylene (PE) beads, mannan beads or wax beads, were formulated and evaluated for their stability. The in vivo evaluation was done in 38 healthy volunteers and the skin irritation, efficacy for dirt and sebum removal were measured by Mexameter® , Colorimeter® , and Sebumeter® , respectively. RESULTS: The selected gel scrubs did not cause an irritation in any volunteers. The differences in dirt residues between before and after scrubbing were not statistically significant among three gel scrubs and the similar result was also reported in the sebum removal study. CONCLUSION: All gel scrubs demonstrated the comparable cleansing efficacy in term of dirt and sebum removal. Thus, mannan beads and wax beads may be replaced non-biodegradable PE beads to achieve the similar cleansing effect.

Influence of the complex of retinol-vitamin C on skin surface lipids.

BACKGROUND: Retinol is used to reduce symptoms of skin aging. It affects surface lipids and increases skin regeneration ability. AIM: The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of retinol peel on the face and neck skin lipids in women, aged 50-69. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The level of secreted sebum was measured using Sebumeter SM15 (Courage & Khazaka, Germany) on the forehead, cheeks, nose, chin, and neck. The measurements were carried out before each of the 3 retinol peel treatments applied at 3-week interval and 3 weeks after the last treatment. RESULTS: A statistically significant increase of lipid film in both U-zone and T-zone and on the neck was observed in the study group. CONCLUSION: Retinol peel treatments can help to increase the amount of skin surface lipids in women during menopause.

Clinical and sebumetric evaluation of topical emulsions in the treatment of acne vulgaris.

INTRODUCTION: Numerous plant products described in the scientific literature show distinct activities on the skin, such as moisturizing, antioxidant, sunscreen, anti-acne and depigmentation. AIM: The main objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of emulsion formulations containing plant extracts (Hippophae rhamnoides and Cassia fistula) and placebo (without plant extracts) on acne patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, split-face study was designed. Two groups of 25 patients each (aged 18-37 years) with grade I and grade II acne vulgaris received active formulations on the left side of their cheeks and placebo on the right side of their cheeks twice daily for 12 weeks. Prior to the study, signed consent was obtained from each patient. The anti-bacterial activity of the extracts and formulations was tested in vitro. The skin sebum contents of patients were evaluated by the sebumeter(®) and subjectively using a clinical evaluation before and after treatment of 12 weeks. One way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used in the statistical analysis. RESULTS: A significant (p ≤ 0.05) decrease in the level of sebum contents was observed in both groups who used formulations (F1 and F2) containing the plant extract. The difference between pre- and post-treatment levels of sebum contents was statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05). Formulations containing plant extracts were found effective in the reduction of skin sebum contents (anti-acne effects) sebumetrically as well as clinically when compared to placebo (F3). CONCLUSIONS: Formulations with 5% plant extracts could be effective, safe, and well-tolerated topical medications for grade I and grade II acne vulgaris.

Comparative study of the effect of 50% pyruvic and 30% salicylic peels on the skin lipid film in patients with acne vulgaris.

UNLABELLED: Pyruvic (alfa-keto acid) and salicylic (beta-hydroxy acid) acids are superficial peels frequently used in patients with acne vulgaris. AIM: The aim of the study was to compare the effect of 50% pyruvic and 30% salicylic peels on facial sebum secretion in patients with acne vulgaris, aged 13-30. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The level of secreted sebum was determined in 20 men and women. Ten patients were treated with 50% pyruvic acid and the remaining 10 with 30% salicylic acid. Each peel was applied five times at 2-week intervals. The sebum measurements were taken in the T- and U-zones using a Sebumeter SM 815 (Courage & Khazaka, Germany). The last, sixth measurement was taken 2 weeks after the treatment. RESULTS: A statistically significant decrease in the level of secreted sebum in both U- and T- zones was observed in the patients studied after the third application of 50% pyruvic peel and the second application of 30% salicylic peel. Two weeks following the completion of therapy, sebumetric measurements demonstrated a greater reduction in the facial skin lipid film among the patients treated with salicylic peel. CONCLUSIONS: Peels with 50% pyruvic acid and 30% salicylic acid are the procedures that significantly contributed to a decrease in the level of secreted sebum on the facial skin surface in the group of patients studied. A greater therapeutic effect was observed following 30% salicylic peel, which might be associated with its high lipophilic properties and easier penetration through the lipid barriers of the epidermis.

Novel facial cosmetic area 'O zone' shows unique characteristics in sebum excretion and acne lesion distribution.

BACKGROUND: We usually divided cosmetic facial zone into the T zone and U zone by the level of sebum secretion. Our recent studies suggested that the perioral area showed different characteristics in the aspect of acne development. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the unique characteristics of the O zone (perioral area) among the three facial areas. METHODS: A total of 102 patients clinically diagnosed as acne vulgaris were included. The acne lesions were counted from the clinical digital photographs by facial areas. The sebum level was measured using Sebumeter(®) . Area-weighted (AW) sebum and AW density of three areas of face were calculated. Statistical analysis was performed according to age and gender. RESULTS: There were no differences in the mean AW sebum level between the gender and age groups. Male has higher AW density of acne lesions than female at the O zone. The mean AW density of acne lesions on the NT zone, U zone, and whole face showed decrease by age, but at the O zone, 21-30 years group showed the highest mean AW density of acne. LIMITATIONS: Age- and gender-matched patients do not represent the whole acne patients. CONCLUSION: We suggested that the O zone is an independent facial zone, which showed a moderate-to-high sebum secreting area, maintained the acne lesions development by age, and predominated acne lesions in the male acne patients than female acne patients. Therefore, the O zone should be separated from the usual cosmetic T zone, and NT zone should replace the old T zone.

Influence of azelaic and mandelic acid peels on sebum secretion in ageing women.

INTRODUCTION: Azelaic acid and mandelic acid are superficial peels commonly applied in people of various age groups. As they are mild and do not cause any side effects, they are also often used in elderly people. AIM: To compare the influence of azelaic and mandelic acid peels on facial sebum secretion in mature women aged 49-71 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The level of secreted sebum was measured in 28 women. Eleven women were treated with azelaic acid peel and 17 with mandelic acid peel. Each of the peels was applied five times with 2-week intervals. The measurements were made on the cheeks and chin with the use of Sebumeter SM 15 (Courage & Khazaka, Germany). The last measurement, i.e. the sixth one, was made 2 weeks after the treatment. RESULTS: We observed a significant increase in sebum secretion in the U-zone after the application of 20% azelaic peel and 40% mandelic peel. Neither peel significantly affected sebum secretion in the T-zone. CONCLUSIONS: Peels with 20% azelaic acid and 40% mandelic acid might be considered treatments which contribute to an increase in sebum secretion in ageing women.

A comparison of the effects of topical green tea and lotus on facial sebum control in healthy humans.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Green tea and lotus hold several synergistic antioxidant compounds. This investigation aimed to assess the efficacy of green tea and green tea plus lotus vs. placebo multiple emulsions in healthy adults for controlling casual sebum secretions. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: After signing informed consents, twenty-two participants were registered in a single-blinded, placebo-controlled, split-face comparative study. Group 1 participants applied a multiple emulsion formulation with green tea extract while group 2 applied a multiple emulsion with green tea plus lotus extract in a 60 days treatment course. A non-invasive photometric device (Sebumeter™) has been used for the measurement of casual sebum secretions on both sides of the face. RESULTS: Steady and statistically significant reductions in sebum secretions were noted for mono (green tea) and combined treatments (green tea plus lotus) compared to placebo treatment. However, irrespective of the concentration of extracts in active formulations, green tea plus lotus combined treatment produced statistically more sound results (two-tailed p value = 0.0002) than green tea alone (two-tailed p value = 0.0060) in a 60-days treatment course. CONCLUSIONS: RESULTS suggest that synergistic compounds in green tea and lotus could be a promising choice for cutaneous disorders where elevated sebum levels are involved in the pathophysiology of these disorders.

Comparative Study of Effects by Glycolic Acid Peeling and Jessner's Solution Peeling on Facial Sebum Secretion in Patients with Facial Acne / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Glycolic acid and Jessner's solution have been popular agents for superficial chemical peeling to treat facial acne. Increased sebum secretion is one of the major etiological factors of acne. There has been no report to compare effects on sebum secretion in patients with facial acne between glycolic acid peeling and Jessner's solution peeling. OBJECTIVE: We compared the effects on sebum secretion in patients with facial acne after glycolic acid peeling or Jessner's solution peeling. METHODS: Twenty patients with facial acne vulgaris were studied. Eight patients were treated with 30% glycolic acid peeling and twelve patients with Jessner's solution peeling. Before and 2 weeks after the treatment, the sebum levels of forehead, nose, center of chin and both cheeks were measured by using Sebumeter(R). RESULTS: The sebum levels were not significantly changed after 30% glycolic acid peeling. After Jessner's solution peeling, the total average, and average of T-zone of sebum levels, were reduced significantly (p<0.05). The high-sebum-level area was defined as the area where the sebum level before treatment was high. The average of sebum levels of the high-sebum-level area was reduced significantly (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: 30% glycolic acid peeling did not affect sebum secretion, but Jessner's solution peeling reduced sebum secretion in patients with facial acne significantly, especially on the areas where sebum secretion was high.

Association between Skin Phenotype and Apocrine Bromhidrosis in Koreans / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of bromhidrosis is a clinical one, but the definition of "normal" odor is a poorly defined term. In the Asian population, the presence of even a faint odor is considered diagnostic. For the more exact evaluation, it is vital to study more findings associated with bromhidrosis. Recently, several studies have suggested possibility that the activity of sebaceous gland may be increased in patients with bromhidrosis. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the differences of the seborrheic phenotypes and the measured serum level of facial skin surface between patients with bromhidrosis and the normal population. METHODS: Twenty patients who were diagnosed with bromhidrosis by nose smell test and age-matched twenty from the normal population were evaluated with regard to the presence of seborrheic skin phenotypes suggested by Ely. We also measured sebum level of facial skin by Sebumeter(R). RESULTS: The presence of some seborrheic skin phenotypes such as telangiectasia and square palm were increased significantly in the patients. In addition, objectively measured sebum of facial skin surface was relatively increased in the patients. CONCLUSION: We concluded that there is an association between apocrine bromhidrosis and seborrheic skin phenotype.

Effects of Beta Hydroxy Acid on the Facial Skin in Acne Patients / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Several studies demonstrated that high concentration salicylic acid (beta hydroxy acid, BHA) peels were beneficial for acne, post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, melasma, oily skin, enlarged pores and surface roughness. OBJECTIVE: We have focused on the facial skin in acne patients after several BHA peels. METHODS: Thirty patients with acne vulgaris were included in this study. The peels were performed at 2 week intervals and sixteen patients completed a series of five peels. Stratum corneum hydration, skin surface lipid, skin pH, transepidermal water loss(TEWL) were measured at each visit and 2 weeks later after the last peel. RESULTS: The stratum corneum hydration, skin surface lipid, skin pH, TEWL did not show a statistically significant difference between the value of pretreatment and after five peels CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that BHA peels can be used to treat acne patients without disruption of normal skin function.