Antioxidant in grapes to make acne treatment effective

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Resveratrol, an antioxidant derived from grapes and found in wine, can inhibit growth of the bacteria that causes acne, a new research shows. Researchers from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) also found that combining resveratrol with a common acne medication – benzoyl peroxide – may enhance the drug’s ability to kill the bacteria and could translate into new treatments.

Published in the current online edition of the journal Dermatology and Therapy, the early lab findings demonstrated that resveratrol and benzoyl peroxide attack the acne bacteria, called Propionibacterium acnes, in different ways. Benzoyl peroxide is an oxidant that works by creating free radicals, which kill the acne bacteria.

‘This study demonstrates that combining an oxidant and an antioxidant may enhance each other and help sustain bacteria-fighting activity over a longer period of time,’ said Emma Taylor, assistant clinical professor of medicine in the division of dermatology at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Resveratrol is the same substance that has prompted some doctors to recommend that adults drink red wine for its heart-health properties.

The antioxidant stops the formation of free radicals, which cause cell and tissue damage. The team grew colonies of the bacteria that causes acne and then added various concentrations of resveratrol and benzoyl peroxide, both alone and together. The researchers monitored the cultures for bacterial growth or killing for 10 days. Surprisingly, the two compounds together proved the most effective in reducing bacteria count.

‘It was like combining the best of both worlds and offering a two-pronged attack on the bacteria,’ added senior study author Jenny Kim, professor of clinical medicine in the division of dermatology, UCLA. ‘We hope that our findings lead to a new class of acne therapies that centre on antioxidants such as resveratrol,’ researchers concluded.

Dos and don’ts for acne-prone skin

• Eat healthy.


• Maintain a regular sleep schedule.


• Never pick or squeeze pimples.


• Playing with or popping pimples, no matter how careful and clean you are, nearly always makes them worse.


• Wash your hands before and after caring for skin lesions to reduce the chance of infection.


• Identify and avoid anything that aggravates acne including oily foods, lotions and make-up.


• Stress can add to your acne problem.


• Relax and reduce the stress in your life through yoga and meditation.

Home remedies for acne-free skin

Cinnamon and honey

Cinnamon is a common spice and flavouring agent but the essential oil it contains also has strong anti-microbial properties. The water activity of honey is very low and this means that it does not contain a lot of moisture which can promote the growth of microorganisms. Considering that pimples often arise from an infection within the pores of the skin, combining cinnamon with honey is an effective remedy. Read more about Mega guide to beat acne: Types, causes, treatments, medications and home remedies

With inputs from IANS

Photo source: Getty images

You may also like to read:

• 8 ways acne can be treated (Gallery)


• Acne treatments recommended by skin specialists — do they work?


• No more acne! 6 tips to avoid pimples

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Antioxidant in grapes to make acne treatment effective