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Combination acne treatment successful from clinical, molecular standpoints

A topical combination treatment consisting of nicotinamide, retinol and 7-dehydrocholesterol was shown to be effective for the treatment of acne from both a clinical and molecular standpoint, according to a recent study.

Enzo Emanuele, MD, and colleagues conducted a pilot study to investigate changes in gene expression of extracellular matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases and proinflammatory molecules as a result of a 45-day treatment with the combination. The study included 16 patients aged 18 years and older with inflammatory acne on their backs.

The researchers obtained 4 mm skin biopsies at baseline and on day 45 of treatment for use in gene expression studies. According to the researchers, quantitative real-time PCR showed a significant downregulation of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, MMP-14, interleukin-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and macrophage migration inhibitory factor; whereas the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases and transforming growth factor-beta-1 were significantly upregulated. Overall, 94% of patients demonstrated improvement after 45 days of treatment.

“This approach seems to be effective in restoring the unbalanced extracellular matrix remodeling and the inflammatory component, which are paramount to the pathogenesis of acne,” the researchers wrote.