A Real-Life, International, Observational Study Demonstrating The Efficacy Of A Cosmetic Emulsion In The Supportive Care Of Mild-To-Moderate Facial Acne

Abstract

Purpose

Cosmetic emulsions are increasingly being used as supportive care products to alleviate the severe side effects and improve the clinical outcomes associated with conventional acne treatments. The objectives of this study were to determine, in a real-life setting, the global effectiveness of an emulsion with antiseborrheic, keratolytic and anti-Propionibacterium acnes activities as an adjunct to anti-acne therapy, and to evaluate the effect of the product on acne severity, noninflammatory and inflammatory lesions, hyperseborrhea, skin irritation and patient quality of life (QoL). Tolerance of the product was also assessed.

Patients and methods

This international observational study involved 3960 patients aged 12 years and over with mild-to-moderate acne. The conventional acne prescriptions for these patients were either initiated at inclusion or were reviewed. Reviewed prescriptions may have been left unchanged, switched, or an addition made to ongoing treatment. At inclusion, participants were instructed to apply the cosmetic product daily for 2–3 months in combination with their medical acne treatment.

Results

After 2 to 3 months of use, the combined therapy resulted in moderate-to-large improvements in acne in over 75% of the patients whose acne prescriptions were left unchanged (n=859). The combination treatment led to an improvement in acne severity (−38.3% change in the mean investigator’s global assessment score; p<0.0001) and QoL (−38.3% change in the mean Cardiff acne disability index score; p<0.0001), and reduced noninflammatory and superficial inflammatory lesions (−35.3% and −47.0%, respectively; p<0.0001), hyperseborrhoea (−40.6%; p<0.0001) and skin irritation (−37.2%; p<0.0001). Tolerance was very good.

Conclusion

Use of the cosmetic emulsion combined with conventional acne therapy significantly improved clinical outcomes and patient QoL, and was very well tolerated. The combined therapy may have improved patient satisfaction, leading to improved patient adherence and higher rates of therapeutic success.

Keywords:

• acne vulgaris
• hyperseborrhoea
• Propionibacterium acnes
• acne treatment
• supportive care
• dermocosmetic product

Acknowledgments

The authors thank all the participating investigators who enrolled patients in this study, as well as Emma Pilling and Marielle Romet, PhD, Synergy Pharm for providing medical writing assistance and English language editing on behalf of Laboratoires Dermatologiques Avène, Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmétique. This work was supported by Laboratoires Dermatologiques Avène, Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmétique.

Disclosure

Dr Bettoli received fees from Laboratoires Dermatologiques Avène, Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmétique as scientific expert of the study, and Drs C Coutanceau and V Georgescu are employees of Laboratoires Dermatologiques Avène, Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmetique. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.