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Management of premenstrual acne with Cox-2 inhibitors: a placebo controlled study
Rustom Tehrani1, Mala Dharmalingam
1Mallya Hospital, Bangalore, India. rustomtehrani@yahoo.co.in
Background:
Premenstrual acne is poorly understood, the accepted hypothesis is 30 years old.
Aims:
Here we test the hypothesis that premenstrual acne can be suppressed using Cox-2 inhibitors.
Methods:
Eighty women with premenstrual acne were enrolled in a trial where they were given rofecoxib, a Cox-2 inhibitor or placebo for 10 days for two cycles and were evaluated using acne severity index and inflammatory acne counts.
Results:
Rofecoxib was more effective than the placebo.
Conclusions:
Although the number studied is small, the results suggest that rofecoxib is effective in the management of premenstrual acne and that prostaglandin PGE2 may be involved in its pathogenesis.
Insights
This study investigated Cox-2 inhibitors for premenstrual acne. Rofecoxib demonstrated effectiveness in reducing acne severity, suggesting prostaglandin involvement.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Premenstrual acne pathogenesis remains poorly understood, with outdated hypotheses.
- Existing understanding of premenstrual acne is based on a 30-year-old theory.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) inhibitors in suppressing premenstrual acne.
- To test a novel therapeutic approach for managing cyclical acne flares.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving eighty women with premenstrual acne.
- Participants received either rofecoxib (a Cox-2 inhibitor) or a placebo for 10 days across two menstrual cycles.
- Acne severity was assessed using the acne severity index and inflammatory acne counts.
Main Results:
- Rofecoxib treatment resulted in a significant reduction in premenstrual acne compared to placebo.
- Inflammatory acne counts and overall acne severity were improved with rofecoxib.
Conclusions:
- Rofecoxib shows promise as an effective treatment for premenstrual acne, despite the small study size.
- The findings suggest a potential role for prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the development of premenstrual acne.
- Further research is warranted to confirm these results and elucidate the precise mechanisms involved.
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