Evolução da acne vulgar em um grupo de estudantes utilizando uma formulação de uso tópico com ácido salicilíco, zinco e óleo de melaleuca.

Abstract

Acne vulgaris is probably the most common skin diseasedefined as a disorder of the sebaceous follicles and characterized by comedones, pustules, nodules, and by inflammatory or noninflammatorypapules; it typically occurs in areas of the body with sebaceous glands. Acne pathogenesis is consideredmultifactorial, especially affecting teenagers, young adults and adults; the presence of acneic lesions can lead to low self-esteem and behaviouralchange, which represents a great impact on psychological state of those who have it. Several cosmeceuticals active ingredients have been used in formulations for acne treatment, including salicylic acid, with keratolytic action, exfoliant and antibacterial activity; zinc, with sebo-regulatory and microbicide activities; and tea tree essential oil that has antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and bacteriostatic properties. The aim of the present study was to formulate a hydrophilic gel with the association of salycilic acid, zinc and tea tree essential oil, and to evaluate its physicochemical and microbiological stability. Passing stability tests, apply the formulation in a group of teenagers with acne from NossaSenhora do Rosário High School, Santa Cruz do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil for 60 days and evaluate its action. Research Ethics Committee – University of Santa Cruz do Sul approved the project under protocol number 1.851.805.The formulated gel was submitted to centrifugation test, macroscopic evaluation, pH and viscosity, and microbiological tests from a sample stored at room temperature and under accelerated stress for 21 days/45 ºC. The gel obtained was hydrophilic,pharmacotechnically stable, translucent white gel, adequately homogeneous, limpid, with characteristic odor of tea tree essential oil, within physiological pH range and free of microbiological contamination.Ten volunteers were selected with mild acne (30%) and moderate acne (70%), mostly of them by men (90%), who met inclusion criteria of this study; the formulation was applied once a day during 8 weeks. The gel was well tolerated by volunteers, with no adverse effects, presenting a significant reduction in global assessment scale for acne severity, and resulting an improvement in 70% of volunteers who went from moderate to mild acne. The formulated gel demonstrated efficacy, reducing acne lesions and severity of acne in all volunteers.