Efficacy of a Retinoid, Keratolytic, Anti-Inflammatory and Antibacterial Gel and Spray Formulations in Mild Common Acne

Acne is a very common inflammatory skin disease affecting skin area rich in sebaceous glands, like face, thorax, shoulder and back [1]. Acne is mainly a disease of the pilosebaceous unit [2]. Hyperseborrhea, hyperkeratinisation, Cutibacterium acnes proliferation and inflammation are the four very well-known acne pathogenetic factors [3]. Specific anti-acne treatments should address ideally all these factors. For the treatment of mild/moderate acne, topical retinoids and antibacterial molecules are used in monotherapy or in combination [4]. Retinoid molecules, used orally or topically, are very effective in normalizing keratinocyte differentiation and proliferation therefore reducing the initial acne lesions (comedones) [5]. Anti-bacterial compound can reduce the presence of pathogenetic population of C. acnes [6]. An exfoliating and anti-inflammatory action can increase the clinical efficacy of this therapeutic approach. A topical product in gel and spray formulations (GF/SF) (BiretixTriactive®, Cantabria Labs, Madrid, Spain) with retinoids (hydroxy pinacolone retinoate and retinol encapsulated with glycospheres), with anti-inflammatory (niacinamide), antibacterial (biopep15) and keratolytic (glycolic and salicylic) activity has recently been developed. The gel formulation is used for acne lesions located on the face; the spray formulation is commonly used to treat large skin surfaces.The gel formulation of this product has already demonstrated to be efficacious and well tolerated in the treatment of common acne [7]. Topical retinoids have anti-inflammatory, anti-seborrheic and anticomedone formation properties [8]. Biopep15 is an oligopeptide with antibacterial action that can interfere with lipoteichoic acid, a component of the wall of Cutibacterium acnes [9]. In addition, Biopep15 can perform also an antagonistic action against the Toll-Like-Receptor 2, involved in the pathogenesis of acne and in the inflammatory process involved in acne lesion formation [10]. Niacinamide has a relevant anti-inflammatory action [11]. Salicylic and glycolic exert exfoliating activity [12]. Therefore, the composition of this innovative topical formulation could act against all the factors involved in the pathogenesis of common acne. Furthermore, the product is vehiculated as both a gel and a spray. The latter formulation could be a convenient topical composition for the treatment not only of the face but also for other area involved in the development of acne lesions such as thorax, shoulders, and the back [13].

To assess the clinical efficacy and tolerability of GF/SF in mild/moderate comedogenic acne.

We conducted a 4-week, open-label, prospective trial, in subjects with mild-to-moderate acne.

The trial, conducted by Zurko Bioresearch CRO Company (Madrid Spain), was performed between January 2018 and March 2018. 

Subjects 

We have enrolled thirty-two subjects. All participants gave their written consent. Main inclusion criteria were, both sexes, aged between 15 and 30 years with mild to moderate common acne (< 100comedon lesions, < 50 inflammatory lesions, no more than 2 nodules).Main exclusion criteria were severe form of acne, pregnancy or breast-feeding, other clinically relevant skin diseases other than acne. Treatment with GF/SF (twice application per day on average depending on the extension of the affected area) was used in the most affected skin localization (GF for face; SF for back, chest and shoulders). 

Study Outcomes 

To assess clinical efficacy, a count of comedonic lesions (non-inflammatory lesions: NIL) and inflammatory lesions (IL; papules and pustules) was performed and the reduction in the number of lesions at 2 (day 14) and 4 weeks (day 28) of treatment was evaluated. Macro high-definition face pictures were performed for each enrolled subject at baseline and at day 28.An evaluation of Total lesions count (TL=NIL+IL) was also performed. We have also evaluated the exfoliating/keratolytic activity by mean of CorneofixF 20 (Courage+Khazaka GmbH) and the effect on sebum production evaluated by means of sebumeter (Sebufix F16; Courage+Khazaka GmbH) and the assessed at baseline, after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment. To evaluate P. acnes skin colonization, we performed a fluorescence detection of skin porphyrine content at baseline and at day 28.The skin porphyrin content was determined by Visiopor PP 34 camera (Courage + Khazaka, Cologne, Germany), which uses a specific UVA light (375 nm) with a measured area of 6 × 8 mm. The porphyrins are visible as fluorescent orange-red spots in the pores, which indicate the presence of P. acnes within and on the surface of the follicular impactions or comedones. The parameters analysed were the number and percentage of the area covered by orange-red spots. 

Statistical Analysis 

Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad statistical software ver. 13.0 (La Jolla, CA, USA). Continuous variables were expressed asmean±SD. The primary endpoint of the trial was the evolution of acne lesions from baseline today 14 and day 28 (end of treatment). The Wilcoxon and the ANOVA tests were used for the analysis of the study outcomes (lesion count, corneometry, sebometry and porphyrin detection).

All patients completed the trial. Treatment was well tolerated, and local tolerability was assessed as optimal by all patients. 

Clinical efficacy on acne lesions 

At baseline the number of NIL was 14.2±2.6 and the number of IL was 8.7±2.5 with a TL mean number of 23±3.The product induced a significant (p = 0.0001) reduction of NIL, IL and TL at both 14 and 28 days.NIL lesion count was reduced by32% at day 14 and by 49% at day 28. IL were reduced by 22% at day 14 and by 63% at day 28. The TL count was reduced by 29% at day 14 and by -54% at day 28. Figure 1 summarizes the evolution of acne lesions (NIL, IL and TL) from baseline and after 14 and 28 days of treatment. Treatment was well tolerated, and local tolerability was assessed as optimal by all patients. Figure 2 shows the pictures of three subjects at baseline and after 28 days of treatment. 

Figure 1: Figure legend: Evolution of NonInflammatory Lesions (NIL), Inflammatory Lesions (IL) and Total Lesions (TL) at baseline, after 14 and 28 days of treatment.

 Figure 2: Figure legend: Pictures of three subjects at baseline (A1,A2, A3) and after 28 days of treatment (B1, B2, B3).

Exfoliating keratolytic effect 

The exfoliating index evaluated in comparison with baseline value (mean value 5.1±1.9) improved not significantly by 13% at day 14,and significantly (p=0.05) by 18% at day 24. 

Sebum production

The instrumental evaluation of seborrheadid not show significant differences between baseline value and after treatment. However, during treatment 38% (day 14) and 57% of subjects (day 28) presented an improved of seborrhea (reduction of area covered by sebum) in comparison with baseline. 

acnes colonization: Porphyrin fluorescence detection 

The use of the Visiopor PP34 camera at baseline and at day 28 showed that the intensity and the extension of fluorescence area were significantly (p=0.02) reduced by 28% in comparison with baseline. An improvement (i.e., reduction) in area covered by positive fluorescence was documented in 25 out of 32 subjects (76%).

In this trial we demonstrated that a topical product in gel and spray formulation containing retinoid, keratolytic, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial compound is effective and well tolerated as monotherapy in subjects with mild to moderate common acne inducing a significant reduction in non-inflammatory and inflammatory acne lesions. In this trial we have also demonstrated that the product has also a significant keratolytic action and a direct anti C. acnes activity, supported by the data of porphyrin fluorescence. These two topical formulations contain retinoids, anti-inflammatory molecule (niacinamide) an antibacterial (biopep15) and finally two components (glycolic and salicylic) with keratolytic activity. Therefore,it could exert positive anti-acne actions toward all the relevant pathophysiology processes involved in the formation of acne lesions (comedo formation, seborrhea, inflammation, C. acnes proliferation). The clinical efficacy in term of percentage reduction of acne lesions is in line with the results of other topical drug products [14,15]. 

A relevant aspect to underline is the good skin tolerability of this formulation even if it contains retinoids and keratolytic agents. Topical retinoids are considered as first line therapy in mild and moderate acne [16]. However, especially during the very first days of therapy a low local skin tolerability could limit their use [17]. In this product the retinoid component (mainly hydroxypinacolone retinoate) is characterized by a tolerability profile better that other retinoid compounds [18,19]. In addition, the presence in the formulation of niacinamide, an anti-inflammatory molecule [20], could at least in part explain the good tolerability profile of the tested product. In evaluating the results of our study, we must consider some trial’s limitations. This was uncontrolled, not randomized trial. However, to improve the internal validity of the present study we performed instrumental evaluations such as corneometry, sebum production and porphyrine fluorescence evaluation. All these instrumental evaluations were in line with the clinical improvement regarding the evolution of acne lesions observed in the study.

This new anti-acne combination formula based on retinoids, antibacterial oligopeptide, keratolytic and anti-inflammatory agents have shown high clinical efficacy and good tolerability in patients with mild to moderate acne. The product reduces also significantly the colonization of the skin by C. acnes.

The study was conducted ethically in accordance with the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki. The subjects have given their written informed consent to publish their case including the images used in this article).

Ethics approval was obtained.

Written informed consent was obtained from participants and in one case by legal guardians for publication of the details of their medical case and used images.

M.M., LC and MV are employees of Cantabria Labs group.

This trial was funded by Cantabria Labs Difa Cooper.

MM, LC and MV participate in the writing of the final manuscript and data analysis.

Source data are available upon specific request.

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