A pilot study on efficacy treatment of acne vulgaris using a new method: results of a randomized double-blind trial...

For many years the positive effect of hydrocolloid dressings on skin-related conditions attracted the attention of the medical scientific community. The use of Acne Dressing, a tape of hydrocolloid dressing, for the treatment of acne has not been reported previously. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and beneficial effect of Acne Dressing on the marker for sebum output evaluations. We also determined the cosmetic outcome of this application during the treatment of acne and whether the material could prevent hand touching and UVB light from reaching the skin surface. The objective of this study was to assess improvement in acne vulgaris and tolerability during one week of short contact treatment with Acne Dressing compared to skin tapes. Efficacy data specific to treatment of acne vulgaris with Acne Dressing (3M Health Care) from a double-blind, randomized, skin types-controlled study is reported. A total of 20 patients with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris applied the skin tapes or Acne Dressing every two days for up to one week. Twenty patients were enrolled in this study: ten patients received Acne Dressing and ten patients received skin tapes. Both groups showed decreases from baseline to the end of treatment in the mean of the overall severity scale (decrease of 1.37 from 1.8 to 0.43 with Acne Dressing and 0.28 from 1.08 to 0.8 with skin tapes). A statistically significant greater reduction was observed over a period of three to seven days in the overall severity of acne and inflammation in the Acne Dressing group compared with the mono-therapy (skin tapes) group. Similarly, Acne Dressing resulted in a significantly greater improvement in the redness, oiliness, dark pigmentation, and sebum casual level at days 3, 5, and 7. The ratio of transmission of UVB light with Acne Dressing was 7.4%, and 38% with skin tapes, which shows less UVB light reaching the skin surface with the Acne Dressing. No significant adverse events were identified in either group. The pilot study shows the benefit of treatment with Acne Dressing in improving mild-to-moderate inflammatory acne vulgaris. A future study will investigate a large set of patients in longer followup periods.