An active ingredient from seaweed can be used as an effective acne treatment , a clinical trial shows.
Mentholatum, the manufacturer of the OXY range, claims that their study shows that an active ingredient from a brown seaweed found off the coast of Brittany can diminish problem spots and oily skin.
The seaweeds are hauled from the seabed and turned into an extract used for acne treatment products that goes on sale in the UK this weekend.
The clinical trial involved 60 men aged 12 to 24 suffering from mild acne. OXY products that were used by the subjects with the seaweed extract demonstrated better results than a face wash, gel, or scrub. The number of problem areas were reduced, and inflammation and redness also subsided within 14 days of application.
“Patients with mild to moderate acne, such as blackheads , whiteheads, and skin redness, found their symptoms markedly reduced,” said professor Enzo Berardesca, director at the Instituto Dermatologica San Gallicano, Italy, who acted as supervisor of the clinical trial.
He said that consumers might prefer this new type of acne treatment since “it comes from a natural source and is not a chemical.”
