Efficacy of the continuous use of a lotion with carbon dioxide on male subjects with mild acne.

Objective: Acne vulgaris is caused by dyslipidemia, dyskeratosis and/or abnormal bacterial growth. The obstruction of skin pores due to hyperkeratosis of the infundibulum contributes to the formation of comedones. Thus, normalizing keratinization of epidermal cells in skin pores might be useful to improve acne. Recently, it has been found that the transcutaneous application of carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) regulates imbalances of the desquamatory process. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of a skin lotion containing CO ₂ on mild acne.
Methods: Twenty-four healthy Japanese males (20-29 years old) with mild acne attended this evaluation. The subjects were divided into 2 groups, one group used a skin lotion containing CO ₂ and the other group used a skin lotion without CO ₂ . Following facial washing, each subject topically applied the skin lotion with or without CO ₂ twice a day for 4 weeks. Prior to the start of the evaluation (week 0) and following 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, acne symptoms were assessed by a dermatologist and by instrumental measurements.
Results: Topical application of the skin lotion with CO ₂ for 4 weeks significantly improved acne symptoms, which was recognized by the subjects. However, treatment with the skin lotion without CO ₂ did not improve acne symptoms. This improvement of acne symptoms by CO ₂ was not accompanied by changes in sebum levels, skin surface pH, skin capacitance, or porphyrin levels.
Conclusion: The transcutaneous application of a lotion with CO ₂ improves acne symptoms by normalizing keratinization without affecting skin surface conditions.
(© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)