01 Oct Resveratrol May Enhance Acne Treatment With Benzoyl Peroxide
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Emma Taylor MD
UCLA Division of Dermatology and Department of Medicine
David Geffen School of Medicine
Los Angeles, CA,
Medical Research: What are the main findings of the study?
Dr. Taylor: The main findings is that resveratrol, an antioxidant has antibacterial activity against Proprionibacterium acnes, the bacteria that causes acne, and that the combination with benzoyl peroxide, the current gold standard for topical acne therapy, has enhanced and sustained antibacterial activity when compared either compound alone. Additionally resveratrol was less toxic to keratinocytes and monocytes which are cells found in the skin, and this may translate to less irritation as a topical acne therapy.
Medical Research: What was most surprising about the results?
Dr. Taylor: That the combination of an oxidant (benzoyl peroxide) and an antioxidant (resveratrol) had enhanced and sustained antibacterial activity. We initially hypothesized that the effects of both compounds would essentially cancel each other out.
Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?
Dr. Taylor: What is most important about this study is that antioxidants such as resveratrol, may be useful adjuvants for topical acne therapy when used in combination with benzoyl peroxide. Since topical acne therapies are traditionally irritating, leading to reduced patient compliance and treatment failures, a combination therapy using resveratrol and benzoyl peroxide may allow for enhanced activity but with reduced irritation, as lower concentrations of benzoyl peroxide could then be used.
Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Dr. Taylor: All our studies were done in vitro, meaning in a laboratory setting, and therefore have to be validated in human studies and clinical trials to evaluate for efficacy and tolerability.
Citation:
Resveratrol Demonstrates Antimicrobial Effects Against Propionibacterium acnes In Vitro
Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2014 Sep 17. [Epub ahead of print]
Taylor EJ1, Yu Y, Champer J, Kim J.
Last Updated on October 1, 2014 by Marie Benz MD FAAD