Exploring clinical effects and usage patterns of a daily face cleanser enriched with glycolic acid, aloe vera, and vitamin-E for acne management: a post-hoc analysis

Background: Face cleansers are recommended as adjuncts to acne therapy to counteract the acne related manifestation like acne spots and post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). This complementary study was designed to assess the clinical impact and tolerability of glycolic acid, aloe vera and vitamin-E based face cleanser for daily use in acne patients prescribed with clindamycin, tretinoin, adapalene and benzoyl peroxide for management of acne in real-world scenario. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review at 193 centres, focusing on individuals having acne with oily and mix skin types who used face cleanser twice a day. Total 619 cases (D age: 28.94±7.92 years) of acne were further analysed over a 4-week study period to study improvement in post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, acne spot reduction and enhance skin radiance and glow using subjective assessment questionnaires. Results: The face cleanser, when used regularly with standard of care, significantly reduced acne (43.58%), acne spots (44.85%), and PIH (46.06%) with statistical significance (p<0.01). Patients with oily and mix skin type, 337 (54.44%) and 264 (42.65%) rated improvement on acne spots, PIH, radiance, and glow to be good to excellent, respectively. No patients experienced serious adverse events (AEs) or cleanser-related adverse event. Conclusions: The facial cleanser demonstrated effectiveness and tolerance in treating acne patients who were prescribed with anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory agents. In 4-week long treatment period, the facial cleanser enhanced skin radiance and also demonstrated its worth as a beneficial inclusion in everyday skincare regimens.