Chao Yuan
Unilever Research & Development, Shanghai, China
Title: A facial cleanser containing thymol and terpineol reduced propionibacterium acnes burden and improved acne symptoms
Biography
Biography: Chao Yuan
Abstract
The pathogenesis of acne is multifactorial. While the sequence of events involved in acne pathogenesis have not yet been fully established, the strong co-relationship between the presence of acne and growth of the microorganism Propionibacterium acnes has led to suggestions that P. acnes is an important microbial driver for acne. Recent studies have also shown an increased level of Staphylococcus epidermidis co-relating with acne. As reported separately, we have shown that the plant derived monoterpenes of thymol and terpineol act synergistically with cutaneous antimicrobial lipids against a wide range of bacteria. To better understand the impact of thymol and terpineol on acne microbiome, a clinical study was conducted involving 30 acne volunteers aged 18-30 years and 30 healthy volunteers of the same demographic. The acne volunteers were given a facial cleanser containing thymol and terpineol to use twice daily for four weeks, while the healthy volunteers were given a mild facial cleanser. Baseline results showed a change in microbial ecology in acne subjects, with a significant increase of P. acnes and S epidermidis as compared to healthy subjects. Over the 4-week clinical study, acne subjects who used the facial cleanser containing thymol and terpineol demonstrated a reduction in P. acnes and S epidermidis levels and a concurrent reduction in acne counts. These results show that thymol and terpineol can normalize the level of P. acnes and S epidermidis in acne to a state that is closer to health, leading to a reduction in acne symptom.