Retinoid Induced Changes in the Fatty Acid Profile of Sebum and Its Effect on Bacterial Growth

    April 2016 in “ Journal of Investigative Dermatology ”
    Jocelyn Fuentes, Negar Foolad, Waqas Burney, Tracy Shafizadeh, Sunita Inderjit Singh, Simon Watkins, Robert W. Crawford, Raja K Sivamani
    Image of study
    TLDR Retinoids change the fat content in skin oil and reduce bacteria growth, helping to treat acne.
    The study from 7 years ago investigated the effects of retinoids on the local lipid profile and bacterial growth in acne patients. Two groups of human subjects with acne were treated with either topical tretinoin or oral isotretinoin. After one month, it was found that tretinoin did not change overall sebum production, while isotretinoin reduced it by 7.1-fold. Both treatments altered the free fatty acid profile of sebum, with C14:0 decreasing and C18:0 increasing, but did not affect C12:0 and C16:0. These changes in fatty acids significantly reduced the growth of S. epidermidis and S. aureus bacteria, with the latter being more profoundly affected. The results suggest that retinoids can alter the fatty acid profile of sebum and affect bacterial growth, independent of their effect on overall sebum production.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 168 results
      If You Have DUPA, PLEASE READ THIS: Everyone Should Be Scalp Biopsied

      community If You Have DUPA, PLEASE READ THIS: Everyone Should Be Scalp Biopsied

      in Research  830 upvotes 1 year ago
      Scalp biopsies are crucial for diagnosing hair loss conditions like Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and retrograde hair loss, as treatments like finasteride and dutasteride may not be effective if other conditions are present. Combining PPAR-GAMMA agonists with retinoids could improve treatments for conditions like Lichen Planopilaris.

      community How many of you guys have taken accutane?

      in Chat  8 upvotes 3 months ago
      Accutane may accelerate hair loss in genetically predisposed individuals by affecting enzymes related to DHT metabolism. Some users report hair loss after taking Accutane, while others use treatments like finasteride and minoxidil to manage hair loss.

      community Minoxidil works only with Retinoic acid

      in Minoxidil  314 upvotes 1 month ago
      Minoxidil is more effective when combined with retinoic acid, such as tretinoin or tazarotene, enhancing hair growth. Some users experience significant regrowth, while others see minimal effects or side effects.

      community Tretinoin for some men(not all) can cause non-telogen effluvium hair loss

      in Research/Science  2 upvotes 1 month ago
      Tretinoin can cause non-telogen hair loss in some men by inducing catagen-like changes in hair follicles and through retinoid toxicity, especially when used with minoxidil. Some users report hair loss even when using retinoids on the face, while others experience benefits when combined with treatments like finasteride and minoxidil.

    Similar Research

    5 / 1000+ results