During puberty, when the pilosebaceous unit of the skin changes, acne is very common. It is a multifactorial disease affecting mainly the face, chest, back and shoulders. They are caused by 4 key processes: increased and altered sebum production, hyperkeratinisation, colonisation by Cutibacterium acnes and the release of inflammatory mediators. The use of cosmetic products containing cosmetically active ingredients aims to influence these processes in order to reduce the appearance and prevent the formation of acne lesions. Different types of cosmetic products are included in acne care: cleansers, skincare and decorative products. These types of cosmetic products contain, in addition to cosmetically active ingredients, other ingredients specific to each type of product.
In the framework of this thesis, 41 acne skin care products on the Slovenian market were studied and the composition and effects of the selected products were evaluated. The analysis of the products focused mainly on the cosmetically active ingredients contained and their effect on the key processes involved in acne formation. 14 cleansing, 14 skin care and 13 decorative cosmetic products were included in the analysis. In all three groups, we also looked at other important non-active ingredients in the products: surfactants in cleansing products, moisturising components in skincare products, and pigments and UV filter content in decorative products. In the course of the analysis, we also looked at the differences between higher-end and lower-end products.
We concluded that cosmetically active ingredients are present in practically all the products examined, with the exception of one decorative cosmetic product. The most commonly used cosmetically active ingredients is salicylic acid (present in 58% of products). Anionic surfactants are predominant in acne skin cleansing products, the most commonly used representative being sodium laureth sulphate. Of the moisturising components, glycerol is the most commonly used in skin care products. SPF was present in only a few decorative products and the pigments used were titanium dioxide and iron oxides. Plant-derived cosmetically active ingredients were also found in 23 products, most of which showed anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity.
The products concerned are suitable for the treatment of acne-prone skin according to the usual claims. Non-comedogenic activity is claimed by half of the products. Skin mattifying and pore tightening actions were also frequently mentioned on the packaging and on the official websites. A very small proportion of all products indicated the exact content of cosmetically active ingredients. We have confirmed the suitability of all the selected products that we found on the Slovenian market for theirs acne-prone skin based on the assumed criteria.
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