چکیده (انگلیسی):

Acne has plagued humankind since antiquity. Acne
vulgaris is a highly variable disease attracting a crisp
social rebuttal. Various anti-acne preparations are
available, each having different physiological effects on
the condition. The basic lesion of acne is the
comedone, a distention and impaction of the
pilosebaceous unit with sebum and keratinous debris.
Some comedones evolve into inflammatory papules,
pustules, or nodules (facial eruptions) that are mainly
due to the proliferation of Propionibacterium acnes,
which results in the production of inflammatory
compounds.
Tretinoin (TRE) is a unique topical medication used in
the treatment of acne that allows the keratin plugs of
microcomedones to be expelled; thus, fewer lesions are
able to rupture and cause the papules, pustules, and
nodules of inflammatory acne [1]. Benzoyl peroxide
(BP), a mainstay of the dermatologist’s treatment of
acne, may act as mild comedolytic, but its main mode
of action is to decrease the population of P. acnes in the
sebaceous follicle and thus prevent inflammation. A
combined assault against P. acnes with TRE and BP on
both the processes of comedogenesis and bacteriostatic
activity is a particularly rational approach to the disease
[2]. However, the main obstacle to combination
therapy with these topical agents is the undesirable side
effects, such as erythema, itching, burning, scaling, and
irritation [1].
Liposomal drug formulations have been reported to
have good accumulation of drug at the administration
site (thus improving therapeutic efficacy) and to have
fewer side effects than plain formulations [3-8].
Although liposomal formulations are promising for
potential use in pharmacotherapy, clinical studies are
still scarce. Therefore, we attempted to clinically
investigate the beneficial effects of simultaneous use of
TRE and BP liposomal gels in terms of therapeutic
efficacy and side effects. This investigation focused on
comparative clinical evaluation of combination therapy
with simultaneous use of liposomal gel formulations
and plain drug gel formulations on 30 acne patients.