moderate severity. Effectiveness and favorable safety features are an important
advantage of azelaic acid in long-term treatment [3, 23].
Topical antibiotics are indicated for papulopustulous acne of mild to moderate
severity in combination with topical retinoids or benzoyl peroxide [6]. Among
antibiotics for external use in the first place are erythromycin, clindamycin, fusidic
acid. Local antibiotic monotherapy does not have the desired effect, as there is no
sufficient influence on the main pathogenetic factors, except colonization
Cutibacterium acnes.
Fusidic acid inhibits protein synthesis on ribosomes of bacteria by inhibition of
the so-called elongation factor (EF-G). Due to the different steroids from the other
antibiotics, the fusidic acid molecule is not destroyed by β-lactamase bacteria, which
explains the lack of resistance (including cross-linking) to this antibiotic. In addition,
in severe cases, the use of fusidic acid in combination with other antibacterial drugs
can achieve high recovery rates in the lesion cells due to additional independent effects
on cellular metabolism of pathogens. Fusidic acid has a strong antibacterial effect on
gram-positive microorganisms - Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp.,
Corynebacterium minutissimum and
Cutibacterium acnes (including staphylococci,
penicillin-resistant, streptomycin, chloramphenicol, erythromycin and other
antibiotics).
Fusidic acid is available for external use in the form of 2% of the cream, has the
ability to penetrate well through intact skin and has a pronounced bactericidal effect
[9].
Local forms of antibiotics are usually well tolerated, allergic contact dermatitis
develops rarely. Long-term external use of antibiotics can lead to the development of
bacterial resistance
Cutibacterium аcnes [21].
α-hydroxy acids (ANA) - apple, tartar, citrus, lactic, glycolic - have comedilithic
properties. At concentration of ANA (30-70) % (glycolic peeling) treatment is carried
out in the morning 1 time per day, in the evening appoint retinoids. Preparations with
an acid concentration (10-15) % are prescribed to patients with acne daily for 8 weeks.
At low concentrations of AHA drugs are prescribed in the inter-recurrence period and
for the prevention of acne (scarring and pigmentation) complications.
α-Hydroxyacids destroy sulfuric bonds between the horny layers of the skin,
weaken the adhesion of the latter and cause active narrowing of the epidermis
(desquamation). Histological studies under a skin microscope obtained chemical
peeling with α-hydroxy acids have proven:
• Reduced keratinization in hair follicles,
• assistance in the removal of comedones (comedonolytic action),
• Reduction of follicle inflammation cells.
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