Application of topical minoxidil in acne vulgaris treatment

Autor: Chun-Bing Chen, Yung-Chia Kuo, Sun-Min Chang, An-Chi Lin, Hsien-Chi Fan, Tung-Liang Lin, Wen-Hung Chung, Cheng-Lung Hsu
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: Dermatologica Sinica, Vol 42, Iss 3, Pp 225-235 (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1027-8117
2223-330X
DOI: 10.4103/ds.DS-D-24-00105
Popis: Background: Acne vulgaris (AV) results from increased sebum production and Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) overgrowth, leading to pilosebaceous unit inflammation. The androgen-androgen receptor (AR) pathway significantly contributes to acne development, with minoxidil showing promise in suppressing AR-related activities. Objectives: This study aims to examine the mechanism and effectiveness of minoxidil in treating AV. Methods: The effects of minoxidil on lipid metabolism and bacterial infection/inflammation were tested. A clinical trial was performed to evaluate the effect of topical minoxidil on AV. Results: Minoxidil suppressed fatty acid synthase activity and lipid formation in an androgen-sensitive prostate cancer cell line in vitro and sebum formation in hamster flank organs in vivo. For C. acnes, minoxidil had a half-maximum inhibitory concentration of 5 mM. Both 2% and 5% minoxidil suppressed C. acnes-induced infection/inflammation in an animal model. A phase I/II clinical trial of topical minoxidil in treating AV using a split-face model demonstrated a good response and well-tolerated side effects. Compared to the untreated side, the numbers of all types of lesions decreased significantly on the treated side on day 3 (mean: −2.238, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −3.821 to −0.655, P = 0.008), day 8, and reached the maximum effect on day 15 (mean: −1.286, 95% CI: −2.151 to −0.420, P = 0.006). Responders to topical minoxidil may experience rapid regression of acne as early as 3 days of treatment. Conclusion: Our collective data indicate that minoxidil could inhibit AR-related functions and C. acnes growth in treating AV.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals
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