Received: 21 April 2020 Revised: 9 August 2020 Accepted: 10 August 2020

DOI: 10.1111/dth.14287

REVIEW ARTICLE

The application of skin care product in acne treatment

Jianmei Zhao | Yu Wang | Lu Jiang | Yun-Zhu Mu

Department of Dermatology, The Affiliated

Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College,
Nanchong, Sichuan Province, China
Correspondence
Yun-Zhu Mu, Department of Dermatology,
The Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan
Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan Province
637000, China.
Email: hymyz77@163.com
Abstract
Acne is a kind of chronic inflammatory skin disease, which is common in the hair folli-
cle and sebaceous gland of teenagers. It often recurs and affects the quality of life of
patients. Acne itself can cause the damage of skin barrier function. On the other
hand, common acne treatment methods, such as external drugs, systemic drugs,
physical, and chemical treatment, can also lead to the damage of skin barrier function
and affect the treatment effect. The application of skin care in the adjuvant treat-
ment of acne has been widely concerned. Due to their high safety, good tolerance,
and the effect of improving the damaged skin barrier, medical skin care products are
a hot spot in the treatment of cosmetic skin diseases in recent years. It can not only
increase the curative effect, reduce the side effects, but also increase the compliance
of patients when combined with conventional acne treatment. In this article, skin
care products and their application in acne treatment were reviewed.

KEYWORDS

acne, skin care product, treatment

1 | I N T RO DU CT I O N
Acne is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease of hair-follicle
sebaceous gland, which mainly occurs in the face, chest, back and
other seborrheic areas.1 The course of acne is chronic and recurrent,
which may lead to infection, pigmentation, and scar. It can even have
a serious negative impact on the quality of life and psychosocial func-
2
tioning of patients. The pathogenesis of acne is mainly related to the
increase of sebum secretion, the hyperkeratosis of hair follicles and
sebaceous duct epithelium, the microbial values of Cutibacterium
acnes, and the inflammatory immunity. Yamamoto et al3 showed that
the skin barrier of acne patients was damaged which manifested as
the sebum secretion was significantly increased, the water loss of epi-
dermis increased, the cuticle hydration was decreased, and the degree
of cuticle permeability barrier damage was related to the severity of
acne. The treatment principle of acne is to reduce the secretion of
sebum, keep the opening of sebaceous gland smooth, and control
infection by sterilization and antiinflammatory.4 However, the routine
acne treatments including drugs, physical therapy, and chemical
therapy have some serious side effects such as teratogenic effect,
bacterial resistance, destruction of skin barrier function, etc.1 The
South-East Asia study alliance guidelines on the management of acne
vulgaris points out that skin care is very important in acne manage-
ment, mainly involving cleaning, moisturizing, and sunscreen.5 Skin
care products with effective ingredients and biological activities which
could repair the skin barrier function, reduce the side effects of treat-
ment, and play an important part of acne adjuvant therapy and man-
agement. At the same time, the application of dermocosmetic
products can be used in the maintenance treatment of acne to reduce
and prevent the recurrence of acne. At present, more and more stud-
ies show that skin care products combined with conventional acne
treatment can improve the efficacy of patients, increase patient toler-
ance, and compliance with high safety.
2 | THE MECHANISM AND APPLICATION
OF SKIN CARE PRODUCT
2.1 | Cleaning skin care product
The hyperplasia of sebaceous glands, the increase of sebum secretion,
and the change of sebum composition in acne patients such as the
low content of linoleic acid,6 lead to the damage of skin barrier. At the
same time, the increased sebum secretion is more prone to acne.

Dermatologic Therapy. 2020;e14287. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/dth © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC. 1 of 5

https://doi.org/10.1111/dth.14287
2 of 5
The increase of sebum level is related to the growth of Cutibacterium
acnes. Therefore, it is important to control the sebum secretion of
patients, pay attention to the skin cleaning, and oil control for the
7 8
treatment of acne. Zhou et al showed that the level of phos-
phatidylserine on the skin surface of young acne patients was signifi-
cantly increased, and the decrease of ceramide chain length and the
increased of unsaturated free fatty acids led to the change of skin lipid
tissue and the reduction of skin barrier function in acne patients. As a
result, skin cleaning is the first step in acne care.
The type of cleansers used for acne including fat free cleansers,
astringents cleansers, astringents, synthetic cleansers, exfoliators, or mild
abrasives, which can also be in the form of cleaning sticks or liquids.9
Cleanser is used to remove excess grease, dirt, dead skin cells, cos-
metics, and bacteria to clean pores.10 Isoda et al11 have showed that
daily use of facial cleanser containing sodium lauryl carboxylate and alkyl
carboxylate can clean facial sebum and improve mind to moderate acne.
In one study by Kumtornrut et al,12 the researchers have found that
detergents containing (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane and L-arginine
can reduce sebum level, destroy keratoembolism, decrease in pore size,
and significantly reduce noninflammatory and inflammatory acne.
Acne-resistant cleansers are often supplemented with oil-removing or
oil-controlling substances (such as PCA zinc, kaolin, etc) and softening
keratin components (such as salicylic acid, a-hydroxy acid, etc).13 At the
same time, some facial cleansers contain moisturizing ingredients (such
as glycerin, propylene glycol, etc) that are helpful to repair the skin
barrier and relieve the dry skin after cleansing. Some products may con-
tain antiacne active ingredients, such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic
5
acid. According to South-East Asia study alliance guidelines on acne
treatment, the ideal cleanser is a noncomedogenic, nonacnegenic, low
variability, and nonirritating cleanser for the skin.5 However, thorough
14
cleansing may result in impaired skin barrier function and dry skin,
which is not beneficial for acne patients. Therefore, the best cleaning
frequency should be used twice a day.15 Use a gentle cleanser and avoid
scrubbing of affected areas to prevent irritation and injury to potential
16
acne, which can lead to increased inflammation.
2.2 | Moisturizing skin care products
Moisturizing skin care products refer to a kind of skin care products
which can increase the moisture content of the epidermis, help the
recovery of skin barrier function, reduce the dryness and desquama-
17
tion of the skin, and make skin smooth. It mainly has three charac-
18
teristics namely sealing, moisturizing, and moistening. The sealing
agent can reduce the skin water loss, mainly including mineral fat, lan-
olin, mineral oil, paraffin, etc; the moistening property is to attract
water from the dermis to the epidermis and the main ingredients are
glycerin, sodium lactate, ammonium lactate, sodium hyaluronate, etc;
the moistening agents include isopropyl isostearate, castor oil, propyl-
ene glycol, octyl stearate, dimethylpolysiloxane, and so on, which
18
makes the skin smooth and soft. Some moisturizers add acne local
drugs and plant antiinflammatory substances for acne treatment.18
The new generation of humectants contain components similar to
human sebum membrane (such as ceramide and squalene), which can
ZHAO ET AL.
replenish the lipids on the surface of the cuticle and between cells,
and can quickly penetrate into the cuticle of the skin to combine with
water, lock the water,19 so as to improve the function of the skin bar-
rier. Acne itself and many treatments used to treat acne (such as ben-
zoyl peroxide, topical retinoids, oral isotretinoin, photodynamic
therapy, chemical exfoliation therapy, laser therapy, etc) can induce
infiltration barriers that damage the stratum corneum, increase the
rate of water loss of the epidermis, cause skin dryness and inflamma-
tion, and increase skin sensitivity.20 Moisturizer can reduce the rate of
skin water loss and improve the hydration of skin, maintain the integ-
rity of cuticle permeability barrier, and promote and accelerate the
physiological repair of cuticle.21 Research shows that the level of cer-
amide in the skin of acne patients is reduced, and ceramide is the main
component of intercellular lipid membrane in the cuticle, whose func-
tion is to regulate the rate of skin water loss.3 Therefore, the use of
moisturizer containing pseudoceramide 5 in the preparation can
reduce the rate of skin water loss and improve the water content in
the cuticle.20 Therefore, choosing the right moisturizer can repair the
skin barrier, and it is also a necessary auxiliary means for the treat-
ment of acne vulgaris.19
2.3 | Sunscreen skin care products
The development and aggravating factors of acne are related to the
external environment, and ultraviolet is one of the main external envi-
ronment that affects the skin.22 Some studies have shown that UV
can cause the proliferation of sebocytes, the secretion of sebum, and
the expression of inflammatory cytokines, thus promoting the devel-
opment and deterioration of acne lesions.6,23,24 In addition, some
known conventional cane medications (such as vitamin A and benzoic
peroxide) increase skin photosensitivity. Using sunscreen skin care
products can reduce the influence of ultraviolet rays on skin barrier,
reduce the side effects of conventional treatment drugs, and reduce
skin pigmentation after inflammation. At the same time, the moisturiz-
ing ingredient added in sunscreen can also improve the skin barrier
function. A study on a new type of selective cream (acne RA-1,2)
abroad shows that it can effectively reduce acne, improve epidermal
barrier function (skin water loss rate), and reduce sebum production.25
Therefore, it is recommended to use sunscreen for acne patients with
high risk of postinflammatory pigmentation and those with signs of
postinflammatory pigmentation, especially Asians, because pigmenta-
tion is a common result of acne in Asians.10 It is generally rec-
ommended to use a broad-spectrum, nonacne sunscreen with a sun
protection factors of 30 or higher.5
2.4 | Medical skin care product
Medical skin care products are skin care products that can restore skin
barrier function and assist in the treatment of skin diseases. They have
the functions of repairing epidermis, reconstructing skin barrier, anti-
stimulation, and antiinflammation. Their main mechanism of action is to
increase the water content and lipid composition of cuticle of skin.26
ZHAO ET AL. 3 of 5

TABLE 1 Active ingredients and function of skin care product

Active ingredient Function References

Portulaca extract Antibacterial, antiinflammatory, and antioxidant 27
Extract of Paris polyphylla Antibacterial, antiinflammatory, and antioxidant scavenging active oxygen 28
Bayberry oil Bacteriostasis, antioxidation, and moisturizing 29
Extract of Camellia Dianshan Antioxidation, antibacterial, and UV protection promoting the growth of keratinocytes 30
Pomegranate extract Antiinflammatory, antioxidative, and antilipoperoxidative 32
Antibacterial and antitumor activities
Nigella sativa Antibacterial, antiviral, and antiinflammatory 33
Resveratrol Antiinflammatory, antioxidative, and antibacterial 34
Antiproliferation and antiangiogenesis
Hop extract Antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and antibacterial 35
Matricaria recutita Antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and antibacterial 36
Licorice extract Antitumor, antimicrobial, antiviral, and antiinflammatory 37
Immunoregulatory
Avocado oil Moisturizing, UV protection, antioxidant, and delay skin aging 38
Green tea extract Antimicrobial, antiinflammatory, and antioxidant reducing sebum production 39
Fruit acid (alfa hydroxy acids) Soften cuticle, dredge pores, moisture, and repair skin barrier antioxidant 40
Salicylic acid Bacteriostatic, antiinflammatory, unclog pore, and keratolytic properties 41
Niacinamide Antimicrobial, photoprotective, and sebostatic 42
Retinol Antiinfective, antioxidant, and antiwrinkle 43
Zinc-containing compounds Antioxidant, sunscreening properties, antiinflammatory antipigmentation, antiacne, and 44
antibacterial

A variety of ingredients in medical skin care products have auxiliary
effects on acne treatment. For example, the extract of Portulaca oleracea
has antibacterial, antiinflammatory, and antioxidant activities.27 The
extract of Paris polyphylla has antibacterial, antiinflammatory, scaveng-
ing active oxygen, and antioxidant effects.28 Bayberry oil has the func-
tions of bacteriostasis, antioxidation, and moisturizing.29 The tea
polyphenols in the extract of Camellia Dianshan have the function of
antioxidation, antibacterial, promoting the growth of keratinocytes, and
preventing the skin damage caused by ultraviolet rays.30 Therefore, the
medical skin care products added with these ingredients can effectively
antiinflammatory, antiallergic, and moisturizing, effectively improve the
moisture content of skin, improve the skin water loss, restore the skin
barrier function, and effectively improve acne skin lesions.31 In recent
years, more and more medical skin care products are used in the treat-
ment of acne, which also attracts the attention of dermatologists. Some
of the active ingredients for acne treatment and their function have
been tabulated in Table 1.
3 | COMBINATION OF SKIN CARE PRODUCTS
AND CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT
Skin care products can be used alone for acne patients or in combina-
tion with other treatment methods. Skin care products can not only
repair the damaged skin barrier, but also reduce the side effects of
conventional acne treatment, so as to improve the tolerance and com-
pliance of patients, and improve the success rate of treatment. At the
same time, skin care products can also be used as maintenance treat-
ment of acne to reduce the recurrence of acne.
3.1 | Combination of skin care products and drug
therapy
External drug treatment is the basis of acne treatment. Mild to moder-
ate acne is mainly used as external drug, while moderate to severe
acne is treated by systemic drug treatment and supplemented by
external drug treatment.45 However, there are some side effects of
drug treatment, such as dry skin, erythema, desquamation, tingling,
burns, pruritus, and increased photosensitivity, which lead to patients'
intolerance and poor compliance.
An open and prospective study in Germany include 50 subjects
with mild to moderate facial acne and combination of 5% benzoyl per-
oxide with a cleanser (liquid cleanser) and a light protectant (moistur-
izer SPF 30) was administered. This study shows that the treatment
can reduce inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions and
Cutibacterium acnes. The result also showed that 87% of the subjects
were satisfied with the treatment plan, and believed that skin care
products could help the skin to prepare for treatment (85%), relieve
itching (81%), and reduce irritation (87%). Most of the examiners
believed that liquid detergent (80%) and moisturizer SPF 30 (84%)
were necessary components in the treatment of acne.46 Another
international observational study combined cosmetic emulsion with
antilipid overflow, stratum corneum decomposing agents, active
4 of 5
ingredients of antiinflammatory, and anti-Cutibacterium acnes, and
2-3 months of routine medical acne treatment, which can improve
clinical outcomes and minimize the harmful side effects of traditional
treatment regimens of mild to moderate acne, and improve the quality
of life of patients, which may lead to further improvement.47
3.2 | Combination of physical and chemical
therapy with skin care products
Physical and chemical treatment of cane includes photodynamic ther-
apy, red and blue light therapy, laser and photon therapy, chemical
exfoliation therapy and so on, it is mainly used for auxiliary or alterna-
tive treatment of acne and treatment of acne sequelae.45 However,
physical and chemical therapy have different effects on the function
of skin barrier, so it can be combined with skin care products to
improve the damaged skin barrier.
3.2.1 | Skin care products combined with
chemotherapy
In a study by Yan et al,48 18 patients with mild to moderate acne were
treated with three series of chemical skin changes and PHA containing
skin care products at the same time. After three series of skin
changes, 39% of the patients were cured of acne, 61% of the patients
had improved skin lesions, the effective rate was 100%, the number
of inflammatory papules, and noninflammatory acne were significantly
reduced.
3.2.2 | Skin care products combined with physical
therapy
In the study by Yan et al,49 skin care products combined with red and
blue light irradiation is an effective way to treat acne, and the acne
cleaning series skin care products are safe and have few adverse reac-
tion, which can increase the efficacy of red and blue light in the treat-
ment of acne. Continued use of skin care products after improvement
will help maintain the treatment effect and prevent the recurrence of
acne. Another study shows that photodynamic therapy combined
with medical skin care product (Winona acne clearing essence) can
effectively treat moderate and severe acne. Compared with ALA-PDT
alone in the treatment of acne, the recurrence rate is lower and
adverse reactions are less. It provides a kind of combined treatment
for patients with moderate and severe acne, which is safe, effective,
low recurrence rate, and mild adverse reactions.50
4 | C O N CL U S I O N
Skin care products alone may effectively improve the skin barrier
function to alleviate the acne symptoms and can reduce the incidence
ZHAO ET AL.
of side effects after treatment when combined with other conven-
tional methods. On the other hand, the use of appropriate skin care
products can also improve patients' compliance and tolerance. How-
ever, when using skin care products, patients should choose appropri-
ate skin care products according to the type and severity degree of
acne, skin type, and use of drugs, so as to avoid aggravating acne. At
present, there is a lack of large sample research on the treatment of
skin care products in acne patients, and the types of acne in each
study are different, and the types and efficacy of skin care products
are different. In the future, With further research on the effective
ingredients and biological activities of skin care products, the applica-
tion of skin care products are being expected to have a better pros-
pect for acne treatment.
CONFLIC T OF INT ER E ST
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
DATA AVAILABILITY STAT EMEN T
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the
corresponding author upon reasonable request.
OR CID
Yun-Zhu Mu https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4078-5167
RE FE RE NCE S
1. Song FJ, Zhang SJ, Xiao B, et al. The acne and skin barrier. J Pract
Dermatol. 2018;11(02):97-100.
2. Barnes LE, Levender MM, Fleischer AJ, et al. Quality of life measures
for acne patients. Dermatol Clin. 2012;30(2):293-300.
3. Yamamoto A, Takenouchi K, Ito M. Impaired water barrier function in
acne vulgaris. Arch Dermatol Res. 1995;287(2):214-218.
4. Xie Y, Du R, Zhang WW. Clinical observational of 66 cases of acne
vulgaris treated with traditional Chinese medical facial mask. Mod J
Integr Tradit Chin West Med. 2010;19(15):1865-1866.
5. Goh CL, Abad-Casintahan F, Aw DC, et al. South-East Asia study alli-
ance guidelines on the management of acne vulgaris in south-east
Asian patients. J Dermatol. 2015;42(10):945-953.
6. Zouboulis CC. Acne and sebaceous gland function. Clin Dermatol.
2004;22(5):360-366.
7. Jiang HJ, Tu Y, He L. Progress on the treatment of acne. J Dermatol
Venereol. 2016;38(01):30-32.
8. Zhou M, Gan Y, He C, Chen Z, Jia Y. Lipidomics reveals skin surface
lipid abnormity in acne in young men. Br J Dermatol. 2018;179(3):
732-740.
9. Mukhopadhyay P. Cleansers and their role in various dermatological
disorders. Indian J Dermatol. 2011;56(1):2-6.
10. Goh CL, Noppakun N, Micali G, et al. Meeting the challenges of acne
treatment in Asian patients: a review of the role of dermocosmetics
as adjunctive therapy. J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2016;9(2):85-92.
11. Isoda K, Takagi Y, Endo K, et al. Effects of washing of the face with a
mild facial cleanser formulated with sodium laureth carboxylate and
alkyl carboxylates on acne in Japanese adult males. Skin Res Technol.
2015;21(2):247-253.
12. Kumtornrut C, Manabe SD, Navapongsiri M, et al. A cleanser formu-
lated with Tris (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane and l-arginine signifi-
cantly improves facial acne in male Thai subjects. J Cosmet Dermatol.
2019;19(4):901-909.
13. He LL, Zhang Y, Gong QJ, et al. The mechanism and symptoms of
acne and the functions and types of acne skin care products. China
Surfactant Deterg Cosmet. 2020;50(5):336-342.
ZHAO ET AL.
14. Isoda K, Seki T, Inoue Y, et al. Efficacy of the combined use of a facial
cleanser and moisturizers for the care of mild acne patients with sen-
sitive skin. J Dermatol. 2015;42(2):181-188.
15. Choi JM, Lew VK, Kimball AB. A single-blinded, randomized, con-
trolled clinical trial evaluating the effect of face washing on acne
vulgaris. Pediatr Dermatol. 2006;23(5):421-427.
16. Zip C. The role of skin Care in Optimizing Treatment of acne and
rosacea. Skin Therapy Lett. 2017;22(3):5-7.
17. Wu Y, Ma SQ. Moisturizer. J Clin Dermatol. 2007;03:181-183.
18. Chularojanamontri L, Tuchinda P, Kulthanan K, Pongparit K. Moistur-
izers for acne: what are their constituents? J Clin Aesthet Dermatol.
2014;7(5):36-44.
19. Yang K, Li HL, Zhang Q, et al. Research Progress on the auxiliary role
of moisturizers in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Chin J Aesthet Med.
2019;28(08):166-169.
20. Del RJ. The role of skin care as an integral component in the manage-
ment of acne vulgaris: part 1: the importance of cleanser and moistur-
izer ingredients, design, and product selection. J Clin Aesthet
Dermatol. 2013;6(12):19-27.
21. Del RJ, Levin J. The clinical relevance of maintaining the functional
integrity of the stratum corneum in both healthy and disease-affected
skin. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2011;4(9):22-42.
22. Dreno B, Bettoli V, Araviiskaia E, et al. The influence of exposome on
acne. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2018;32(5):812-819.
23. Lee WJ, Park KH, Sohn MY, Lee WC, Lee SJ, Kim DW. Ultraviolet B
irradiation increases the expression of inflammatory cytokines in cul-
tured sebocytes. J Dermatol. 2013;40(12):993-997.
24. Akitomo Y, Akamatsu H, Okano Y, Masaki H, Horio T. Effects of UV
irradiation on the sebaceous gland and sebum secretion in hamsters.
J Dermatol Sci. 2003;31(2):151-159.
25. Cestone E, Michelotti A, Zanoletti V, Zanardi A, Mantegazza R,
Dossena M. Acne RA-1,2, a novel UV-selective face cream for
patients with acne: efficacy and tolerability results of a randomized,
placebo-controlled clinical study. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2017;16(2):
265-270.
26. He L. Medical cosmetics applications in dermatology. J Clin Dermatol.
2009;38(6):409-410.
27. Zhou YX, Xin HL, Rahman K, et al. Portulaca oleracea L.: a review of
phytochemistry and pharmacological effects. Biomed Res Int. 2015;
2015:925631.
28. Zhao BS, Zhu YD, Ma Y, et al. Advances in studies on Paridis
Rhizoma. Chin J Exp Tradit Med Formulae. 2011;17(11):267-270.
29. Xia HM, He PF, Li YP, et al. Bioactivity and application of prickle oil.
Yunnan J Tradit Chin Med Mater Med. 2018;39(12):86-87.
30. Zuo WT, Zhou N, Nong X, et al. Application of Winona medical skin
care products in common dermatological diseases. J Dermatol Ven-
ereol. 2015;37(02):84-85.
31. Pang Q, Tu Y, He L. Clinical study on effects of skin care products
containing prinsepia utilis and purslane in the treatment of acne
vulgaris. J Clin Dermatol. 2012;41(06):380-382.
32. Lee CJ, Chen LG, Liang WL, et al. Multiple activities of Punica
granatum Linne against acne vulgaris. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;18
(1):141.
33. Eid AM, Elmarzugi NA, Abu AL, et al. A review on the Cosmeceutical
and external applications of Nigella sativa. J Trop Med. 2017;2017:
7092514.
5 of 5
34. Ratz-Lyko A, Arct J. Resveratrol as an active ingredient for cosmetic
and dermatological applications: a review. J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2019;
21(2):84-90.
35. Weber N, Biehler K, Schwabe K, et al. Hop extract acts as an antioxi-
dant with antimicrobial effects against Propionibacterium acnes and
Staphylococcus aureus. Molecules. 2019;24(2):223.
36. Mckay DL, Blumberg JB. A review of the bioactivity and potential
health benefits of chamomile tea (Matricaria recutita L.). Phytother
Res. 2006;20(7):519-530.
37. Yang R, Wang LQ, Yuan BC, Liu Y. The pharmacological activities of
licorice. Planta Med. 2015;81(18):1654-1669.
38. Zhang LP, Zhang SP, Hu YX, et al. Application of shea butter in cos-
metics. China Surfactant Deterg Cosmet. 2004;34(3):184-186.
39. Saric S, Notay M, Sivamani RK. Green tea and other tea polyphenols:
effects on sebum production and acne vulgaris. Antioxidants (Basel).
2016;6(1):2.
40. Meng HM, Li L. The effect and clinical application of fruit acid.
J Dermatol Venereol. 2014;36(03):155-157.
41. Draelos Z, Lewis J, Mchugh L, et al. Novel retinoid ester in combina-
tion with salicylic acid for the treatment of acne. J Cosmet Dermatol.
2016;15(1):36-42.
42. Wohlrab J, Kreft D. Niacinamide - mechanisms of action and its topi-
cal use in dermatology. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2014;27(6):311-315.
43. Hong SH, Kim KR, Oh DK. Biochemical properties of retinoid-
converting enzymes and biotechnological production of retinoids.
Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2015;99(19):7813-7826.
44. Abendrot M, Kalinowska-Lis U. Zinc-containing compounds for per-
sonal care applications. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2018;40(4):319-327.
45. Ju Q. Guideline for diagnosis and treatment of acne (the 2019 revised
edition). J Clin Dermatol. 2019;48(09):583-588.
46. Kim MR, Kerrouche N. Combination of benzoyl peroxide 5% gel with
liquid cleanser and moisturizer SPF 30 in acne treatment results in
high levels of subject satisfaction, good adherence and favorable tol-
erability. J Dermatolog Treat. 2018;29(1):49-54.
47. Bettoli V, Coutanceau C, Real-Life GVA. International, observational
study demonstrating the efficacy of a cosmetic emulsion in the sup-
portive care of mild-to-moderate facial acne. Clin Cosmet Investig
Dermatol. 2019;12:759-769.
48. Wu Y, Zhong SM, Li Y, et al. Chemical peeling together with PHA cos-
metics in the treatment of mild to moderate acne. Chin J Aesthet Med.
2007;9(16):1251-1254.
49. Li Y, Xu J, Li Y，et al. Effect of combination of dermal quotient acne-
free medical cosmetics and red and blue light in treating acne. Chin J
Laser Med Surg, 2013;22(3): 160–164.
50. Liu G, Xiong JH, Wang F, et al. Efficacy of photodynamic therapy with
5-aminolevulinic acid combined with anti-acne repairing essence in
the treatment of moderate and severe acne. Chin J Leprosy Skin Dis.
2014;30(09):527-529.
How to cite this article: Zhao J, Wang Y, Jiang L, Mu Y-Z. The
application of skin care product in acne treatment.
Dermatologic Therapy. 2020;e14287. https://doi.org/10.1111/
dth.14287