RALGA (Diacneal), a retinaldehyde and glycolic acid association and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation in acne--a review

Acne vulgaris affects 3 out of 4 adolescents and usually vanishes at the end of puberty with either no sequelae or mild to moderate sequelae, such as postinflammatory hyperpigmenation (PIH), which may result in psychological and emotional damages. The poor tolerability of the actual treatments (secondary inflammation) is a hindrance to therapy. Retinaldehyde (RAL), a precursor of retinoic acid, has shown depigmenting activity. Glycolic acid (GA) decreases the excess of pigment by a wounding and re-epithelization process. Thus, a synergistic effect was expected from the combination of RAL 0.1% and GA 6% RALGA (Diacneal) in the treatment of acne vulgaris and PIH. Efficacy results of preclinical and clinical trials tend to confirm the expectations for both acne and PIH treatment. A good tolerability was observed. In conclusion, the cosmetic cream Diacneal is a well-tolerated treatment for the prevention and healing of PIH in acne patients.