Assessment of the Benefit of a Deep Cleansing Gel Containing Salicylic Acid 2%, Zinc Gluconate 0.2% and Lipohydroxy Acids 0.05% in Patients with Mild to Moderate Truncal Acne: Results from an Exploratory Study

Loan Towersey1 , Priscila Correia 2 , Mariana Fajgenbaum Feiges2 , José Euzébio Gonçalves Junior2 , Beatriz Sant’Anna3 , Delphine Kerob4 , Caroline Le Floc’h 4

Purpose: Acne is a skin condition of the pilosebaceous unit that affects mainly the face, chest and trunk. Approximately 50% of subjects with facial acne also have acne of the trunk. This study investigated the clinical benefit of a cleansing gel containing salicylic acid 2%, zinc gluconate 0.2% and lipohydroxy acid 0.05% in truncal acne after 84 days of daily use.

Materials and Methods: A single center, open label, non-randomized study with 51 subjects with mild to moderate truncal acne was conducted. Thirty-five (35) subjects completed the study; mean age was 23 years. Inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions, Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and local tolerance were assessed at baseline, Day 42 and Day 84 and total lesion count was calculated.

Results: The total lesion count was significantly reduced (p<0.05) after 42 days (−21.5%) and 84 days (−56.3%). Non-inflammatory lesions were significantly decreased after 84 days (−64.0%) only, while inflammatory lesions were decreased at Day 42 (−29.2%), and Day 84 (−48.2%). A statistically significant skin barrier improvement was observed at Day 84 (−21.26%). No adverse events or relevant local intolerance were reported.

Conclusion: The use of the cleansing gel studied was effective in improving mild to moderate truncal acne and contributed to the skin barrier improvement. The product was well tolerated.