EFFECTS OF BENZOYL PEROXIDE - CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 33  (5) , 257-265
Abstract
Clinical and experimental investigations to characterize therapeutic effects of topically applied benzoyl peroxide (5 and 10% in an alcohol-free gel formulation) were performed with: quantitative determination of bacteria in the follicular filaments with the cyanoacrylate technique (Propionibacterium acnes and micrococcaceae); agar diffusion method for bacteriostatic effects; semi-quantitative determination of skin surface lipids (ground glass method); lipid solvent and TLC (free fatty acids vs. triglycerides); scanning EM of the skin surface; exfoliative cytology with corneocyte counts in a Fuchs-Rosenthal chamber (corneocytes/cm2 skin surface); determination of corneocyte surface area in .mu.m2; and a clinical trial concerning efficacy and tolerance of the gel formulation. Topically applied benzoyl peroxide acts antibacterially and keratolytically, has anti-lipolytic activity, reduces bacteria in the follicular infundibula, but does not inhibit sebum production as measured by skin surface lipids. Benzoyl peroxide stimulates the epidermopoiesis with reduction of corneocytes/cm2 from 87,400 .+-. 29,000 to 36,000 .+-. 19,000 (day 15 of treatment) with diminution in size of corneocytes from 1018 .mu.m2 .+-. 74 to 865 .mu.m2 .+-. 65 vs. 832 .mu.m2 .+-. 85 (5 vs. 10% benzoyl peroxide). Alcohol-free gels of benzoyl peroxide are better tolerated by acne patients than those containing alcohol, in particular when combined with topical tretinoin (vitamin A acid) treatment.

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