Acne – a multifaceted problem

Acne affects teenagers and adults under psychological, environmental or hormonal stresses. It can be treated with benzoyl peroxide or retinoids, but milder agents would be welcome. Exfoliating agents associated with anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiseborrheic agents and stimulators of defensin biosynthesis decrease inflammatory lesions by 55%, and noninflammatory lesions by 69% in six weeks, an efficacy comparable to the one of 5% benzoyl peroxide.

Section editor:Michael Roberts – School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Australia