THERAPEUTICAL NOTES   

Giornale Italiano di Dermatologia e Venereologia 2003 August;138(4):341-7

Copyright © 2003 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Emollient and anti-inflammatory activity of a cosmetic product containing glycyrrhiza derivates. Clinical study in allergic and irritative contact dermatitis and in erythrosis

Amato L., Berti S., Chiarini C., Coronella G., Fabbri P.

Clinica Dermatologica II Dipartimento di Scienze Dermatologiche Università degli Studi di Firenze, Firenze

Aim. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and tolerability of a topical cosmetic product containing hydrosoluble and liposolube active agents with an immediate and long-term-inflammatory and antiradical activity, both in allergic and irritative contact dermatitis and in erythrosis.
Methods. We studied the clinical efficacy and tollerance of a topic cosmetic product containing hydrosoluble and liposoluble active anti-inflammatory agents on 40 patients (29 with contact dermatitis and 11 with erythrosis). The clinico-morphological (dryness and roughness, desquamation, infiltrate) and subjective parameters (pruritus, burning) before and after the application (twice a day) of the product for 15 days, have been evaluated.
Results. In patients with contact dermatitis all clinical parameters clearly improved, particularly desquamation. In patients with erythrosis, erythema significantly decreased after 7 days and more after 15 days. In patients with contact dermatitis pruritus significantly decreased after 7 days and more the next week, while in patients with erythrosis burning decreased after 7 days and disappeared after 15 days. None of the patients developed a contact sensibilization to the product components. The cosmetologic evaluation of the product was good.
Conclusion. The excellent results obtained are probably related to: 1) glycyrrhiza derivates able to inhibit release of mediators (as histamin, serotonin and bradykinin) and of oxygen radicals; 2) carnosine clorure and ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate able to inhibit hydroxy and superoxide radicals; 3) phospholipids able to restore inter-corneocytic cohesion.