Moisturizer with Ceramides, Niacinamide Boosts Acne Treatment Efficacy, Tolerability

Ceramide and niacinamide-containing moisturizer (CCM) proved to be an effective and well-tolerated adjunct to topical anti-acne therapy, demonstrating significant improvements in acne lesions, according to an 8-week randomized, double-blind, split face trial.

The study evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of CCM compared with a hydrophilic cream when used alongside topical anti-acne treatments in patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris. The researchers enrolled 40 Thai participants aged 18–40 years, and all participants were instructed to apply a combination of 5% benzoyl peroxide in the morning and 0.1% adapalene gel at night, with either CCM or hydrophilic cream applied to each side of the face.

The researchers found that CCM significantly improved non-inflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared with the hydrophilic cream by week 8. Non-inflammatory lesions decreased by 80% with CCM versus 68.33% with hydrophilic cream, while inflammatory lesions showed 100% improvement with CCM, while hydrophilic cream, showed no statistically significant improvement.

CCM's efficacy may be attributed to its ceramide content, which supports skin barrier repair, and niacinamide, which has anti-inflammatory and sebum-reducing properties. Both moisturizers demonstrated good tolerability, with no significant differences in adverse effects or biometric parameters like transepidermal water loss, skin hydration, sebum production, or skin pH.

However, the small sample size may restrict the generalizability of the study findings, and participant adherence may have been influenced by the study taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the use of face masks during the trial may have confounded results by exacerbating skin irritation or altering skin conditions.

“Further studies of CCM moisturizer and other active ingredients in moisturizer as an adjunctive treatment of acne vulgaris would be suggested in larger sample size to verify the effectiveness in acne vulgaris treatment,” the study authors concluded.

Reference
Tempark T, Shem A, Lueangarun S. Efficacy of ceramides and niacinamide-containing moisturizer versus hydrophilic cream in combination with topical anti-acne treatment in mild to moderate acne vulgaris: A split face, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2024;23(5):1758-1765. doi:10.1111/jocd.16212