INTRODUCTION
Facial seborrheic dermatitis (FSD) is a chronic, recurrent dis-ease that can have a profound effect on quality of life.1,2 The clinical features include facial erythema and superficial scal-ing with flares and periods of improvement; symptoms are of itching or burning sensation.3 The role of the sebaceous glands and Malassezia yeast in susceptible individuals is part of the pathogenesis of FSD,4 and Staphylococcus epidermidis is now also considered an aggravating factor.5 Other relevant factors such as environmental insults, irritants, stress, certain foods, and lack of sleep can aggravate FSD.6,7,8
The pharmacological management of this condition includes topical antifungals, anti-inflammatories, and keratolytics. Topical corticosteroids such as hydrocortisone can be used to inhibit inflammation; however, their prolonged use is contraindicated due to potential side effects.9 Topical non-pharmacological therapy with cosmetics, cosmeceuticals, and medical devices improves the symptoms by improving the barrier condition and providing anti-inflammatory and antifungal benefits, avoiding the excessive or prolonged use of topical drugs.6 A non-steroidal facial cream (NSFC) was developed containing a combination of piroctone olamine, zinc salt of L-pyrrolidone carboxylate (PCA), hydroxyphenyl propamidobenzoic acid, biosaccharide gum-2, and stearyl glycyrrhetinate. This topical product was previously studied and demonstrated excellent clinical short-term efficacy and good tolerance in patients with SD on the face and chest, with properties of skin barrier reinforcement.10,11 The product is thought to work due to the combination of ingredients, acting on the multiple pathogen-ic factors involved in SD: piroctone olamine is an antifungal, stearyl glycyrrhetinate has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and skin-soothing properties, dihydroavenantramide has anti-itch, soothing, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties,12 zinc pidolate is sebo-regulating and astringent, acetamide MEA is a kerato-regulating humectant and conditioning agent, biosaccharide gum-2 is anti-inflammatory and soothing, hydroxyphenyl propamidobenzoic acid is anti-irritant, anti-itch, and antihistaminic, and polymethyl methacrylate is a hydrator and moisturization enhancer.6 We wanted to add further data on the clinical efficacy of this product by studying its use in a further number of patients.
The pharmacological management of this condition includes topical antifungals, anti-inflammatories, and keratolytics. Topical corticosteroids such as hydrocortisone can be used to inhibit inflammation; however, their prolonged use is contraindicated due to potential side effects.9 Topical non-pharmacological therapy with cosmetics, cosmeceuticals, and medical devices improves the symptoms by improving the barrier condition and providing anti-inflammatory and antifungal benefits, avoiding the excessive or prolonged use of topical drugs.6 A non-steroidal facial cream (NSFC) was developed containing a combination of piroctone olamine, zinc salt of L-pyrrolidone carboxylate (PCA), hydroxyphenyl propamidobenzoic acid, biosaccharide gum-2, and stearyl glycyrrhetinate. This topical product was previously studied and demonstrated excellent clinical short-term efficacy and good tolerance in patients with SD on the face and chest, with properties of skin barrier reinforcement.10,11 The product is thought to work due to the combination of ingredients, acting on the multiple pathogen-ic factors involved in SD: piroctone olamine is an antifungal, stearyl glycyrrhetinate has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and skin-soothing properties, dihydroavenantramide has anti-itch, soothing, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties,12 zinc pidolate is sebo-regulating and astringent, acetamide MEA is a kerato-regulating humectant and conditioning agent, biosaccharide gum-2 is anti-inflammatory and soothing, hydroxyphenyl propamidobenzoic acid is anti-irritant, anti-itch, and antihistaminic, and polymethyl methacrylate is a hydrator and moisturization enhancer.6 We wanted to add further data on the clinical efficacy of this product by studying its use in a further number of patients.
