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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2026 Jan;25(1):e70641.
doi: 10.1111/jocd.70641.

Rapid and Visible Efficacy of a Dermocosmetic in Acne Patients With Fair Skin Phototypes: Results of a Randomized Split-Face Study

Catherine Queille-Roussel  1 , James Odeimi  2 , Margot Broallier  2 , Delphine Kerob  2 , Jerry Tan  3
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Rapid and Visible Efficacy of a Dermocosmetic in Acne Patients With Fair Skin Phototypes: Results of a Randomized Split-Face Study

Catherine Queille-Roussel et al. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2026 Jan.

Abstract

Introduction and objectives: Dermocosmetics have proven their benefit in acne management. However, only very few studies investigated their efficacy kinetics. This study assessed the efficacy kinetics of a dermocosmetic cream (DC) containing Punica granatum Pericarp extract, Salicylic acid, Niacinamide, Zinc gluconate, and Aqua Posae Filiformis in subjects with acne.

Material and methods: 16 subjects (14 women, 2 men; mean age 29.4 ± 7.7 years; phototype II and III) with mild to moderate acne participated in a randomized, intra-individual, split-face study for 15 days. Hemi-faces randomly received DC or remained untreated. Assessments included lesion counts, acne severity, and local tolerance; subjects also rated the perceived benefit of the DC. Efficacy was also evaluated using standardized multi-modality full-face imaging and a mobile connected imaging system.

Results: The inflammatory lesion count significantly (p ≤ 0.05) decreased with DC at Day 8 and Day 15; a significant decrease of the non-inflammatory lesion count was observed at Day 15 (p < 0.01). The total lesion count had significantly (p ≤ 0.05) decreased with DC at Day 8 and Day 15. Between-side differences were significant (all p ≤ 0.05) for all lesion types at D15. Local tolerance was good. Most subjects considered that their skin appearance and the visibility of acne lesions had improved.

Conclusion: This exploratory study provides strong evidence on the efficacy kinetics of a DC cream in acne management in subjects with fair skin tones. It shows that early, daily and specific treatment with a targeted DC significantly improves all acne lesions type, as well as acne severity as soon as 15 days.

Keywords: acne; dermocosmetic; fair skin phototypes; kinetics.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors, apart from C.Q.‐R. and J.T., are employees of La Roche‐Posay Laboratoire Dermatologique. C.Q.‐R. has no conflicts of interest to disclose. J.T. is a consultant and speaker for La Roche Posay Laboratoire Dermatologique, France.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Change from baseline in the total, inflammatory, and non‐inflammatory lesion count.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Treatment kinetics over time (Phototype III) using Colorface (best case).
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Treatment kinetics over time of DC‐treated side (Phototype III) using SkinCam (best case).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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