Effect of a single overnight topical application of miconazole nitrate paste on acne papules.

BACKGROUND

The classical management of acne calls for prolonged oral and/or topical treatments; however, some patients request a rapid effect to make the papules disappear within a few hours or days.

OBJECTIVE

To test the effect of a single overnight application of a paste containing 0.25% miconazole nitrate on acne papules, and comparison with the effect of the same but unmedicated paste.

METHOD

Narrow-band reflectance spectroscopy was used to assess the changes in E index (erythema) after overnight application of the pastes. In the first study, a total of 117 acne papules were assessed in 15 adolescents. Measurements of the E index were performed at 24-h intervals for 4 days on acne papules and the surrounding normal-looking skin. The last two assessments were performed the mornings preceding and following, respectively, a single application of the medicated paste. The second part of the study consisted of a double-blind, split-face study on 25 adolescents with acne. They applied each of the two formulations on a randomized part of the forehead. A total of 161 acne papules received the medicated paste and 160 received the same but unmedicated paste. Measurements were performed the mornings before and after the overnight treatment.

RESULTS

In the first part of the study, no significant daily difference was observed between the three series of pretreatment E indices, on both acne papules and normal skin. The treatment did not affect the E index of normal skin. By contrast, it decreased significantly the E index of the acne papules. The second part of the study also showed that the medicated paste significantly decreased the E index of acne papules. This effect was significantly (P < 0.05) superior to that of the unmedicated paste.

CONCLUSION

A single overnight application of miconazole nitrate paste appears to reduce the erythematous aspect of acne papules.