Interest of a new salicylic acid derivative in the prevention of acne relapses

Abstract

In summer time, all dermatologists are looking for a topical product which allows to maintain the clinical results obtained by anti-acne treatment used during the previous months and prevent relapse.In a randomized double blind study we have compared the effect a daily cream containing 2% of a new lipophylic derivative of salicylic acid to a commercially available moisturizing cream known to be well torelated by acneic patients. No other anti-acneic treatment was used during the study.Between May and June, 34 patients with a maximum of 10 comedonal and 5 inflammatory lesions on the face were included in the study and divided into two groups. The number of lesions was assessed before and after 12 and 18 weeks of treatment. The criteria for tolerance were: erythema, dryness, burn, pruritus, desquamation.At the inclusion the 2 groups were similar in terms of age, sex and number of inflammatory and retentional lesions. After 18 weeks, we noted an important increase of retentional lesions in the control group (mean W0 = 4; mean W18 = 12.5) compared to the salicylic derivative treated group (mean W0 = 3; mean W18 = 6). Concerning inflammatory lesions, a less important increase was noted in the salicylic derivative treated group (mean W0 = 2 and mean W18 = 3.5) as compared to the control group (mean W0 = 1.75 and mean W18 = 4.5). The tolerability of the salicylic derivative cream and the control cream were juged good or excellent in respectively 13/17 and 9/17 patients.In conclusion, the new salicylic acid derivative cream tested appears to be a cosmetic product of interest in the prevention of acne relapse during summer. In summer time, all dermatologists are looking for a topical product which allows to maintain the clinical results obtained by anti-acne treatment used during the previous months and prevent relapse. In a randomized double blind study we have compared the effect a daily cream containing 2% of a new lipophylic derivative of salicylic acid to a commercially available moisturizing cream known to be well torelated by acneic patients. No other anti-acneic treatment was used during the study. Between May and June, 34 patients with a maximum of 10 comedonal and 5 inflammatory lesions on the face were included in the study and divided into two groups. The number of lesions was assessed before and after 12 and 18 weeks of treatment. The criteria for tolerance were: erythema, dryness, burn, pruritus, desquamation. At the inclusion the 2 groups were similar in terms of age, sex and number of inflammatory and retentional lesions. After 18 weeks, we noted an important increase of retentional lesions in the control group (mean W0 = 4; mean W18 = 12.5) compared to the salicylic derivative treated group (mean W0 = 3; mean W18 = 6). Concerning inflammatory lesions, a less important increase was noted in the salicylic derivative treated group (mean W0 = 2 and mean W18 = 3.5) as compared to the control group (mean W0 = 1.75 and mean W18 = 4.5). The tolerability of the salicylic derivative cream and the control cream were juged good or excellent in respectively 13/17 and 9/17 patients. In conclusion, the new salicylic acid derivative cream tested appears to be a cosmetic product of interest in the prevention of acne relapse during summer.