OBJECTIVE
Comparison of the effectiveness and safety of various methods of acne therapy.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The study included 246 patients with acne lasting more than 1 year, distributed depending on the severity (group 1 — mild, group 2 — moderate) of the disease and treatment (subgroups A, B, C). In subgroups A the adapalene gel 0.1% with benzoyl peroxide 2.5% was applied externally for 12 weeks, in subgroups B — cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), in subgroups C — gel and CAP externally. The pH and moisture content of the skin in the acne area was investigated; in some patients, a microbiological study was performed before and after treatment. The effectiveness and safety of therapy was assessed immediately after its completion.
RESULTS
Before treatment, papule-pustular form with localization on the skin of the face (100% of patients), back (50%) and chest (42% of patients), skin pH in the area of acne elements is higher than normal by 12.18-15.82%, skin moisture reduced in 100% of cases — more pronounced in patients of group 2. Before treatment the Staph. epidermidis (30.9%), Staph. aureus (17.8%), P. acnes (79.8%), Corynebacterium spp. (at 7.1%) and Str. viridans (in 5.2%) were reviled. After therapy in subgroups B and C the P. acnes, Staph. aureus, Corynebacterium spp. not obtained; skin contamination of Staph. epidermidis and Str. viridans decreased by 2-3 times. Facial skin pH decreased more in subgroups A than in others, and below the norm (p<0.05), normalized in subgroups B, in subgroups C slightly below the norm (on average 5.46 and 5.37 versus 5.50). Skin moisture after treatment in subgroups 1A and 2A decreased (p<0.005), in subgroups 1B and 2B did not change or slightly increased approaching the norm. In subgroups B there was a lack of dynamics or some increase in humidity (on average from 60.9 to 62.5) but the indicators remained significantly below the norm. Dermatological index of acne (DIA): 0 — in subgroup 1A in 77.3% of patients; in subgroup 1B in 90.2% of patients; in subgroup 1B in 100% of patients; 0 and 75 — in subgroup 2A in 90.2% of patients (56.1% and 34.1%, respectively); 50 — in 9.8% of patients; 0 — in subgroup 2B in 70.7% of patients; 75 — 24% of patients; 50 — in 4.9% of patients; 0 — in subgroup 2B in 87.8% of patients; 75 — in 12.2% of patients.
CONCLUSION
The use of CAP allows minimizing the frequency and severity of adverse events, and shortening the time to achieve a clinical effect. For patients with mild acne the CAP monotherapy can be offered without loss of effectiveness.
