Optimizing acne therapy with unique vehicles

The science of cutaneous drug delivery is focused on overcoming the major force of resistance to drug penetration and permeation - the stratum corneum. Acne vulgaris is a multifactorial disease of the pilosebaceous unit, resulting from abnormalities in sebum production, follicular epithelial desquamation, bacterial proliferation and inflammation. Topical treatment of even mild-moderate acne requires combination topical therapy, yet often systemic therapy is needed to ultimately confer an acceptable clinical endpoint. New delivery systems have emerged in response to the limited routes of entry and therefore efficacy of topical regimens. The unique physical and optical properties of micro/nano encapsulation of known therapeutics such as benzoyl peroxide and tretinoin allow for both improved efficacy while minimizing issues of compliance and adverse events. Vehicles that offer both inherent biological reactivity and permeation enhancement have also been shown improvement over the current armament of topical drug delivery. This current and exciting path of topical drug development will likely be continued with investigative vigor.