Researchers have found that microencapsulated benzoyl peroxide 5% cream may be safe and effective in treating inflammatory lesions in patients with papulopustular rosacea, according to a report from Dermatology Advisor summarizing the new study. The findings were presented by Baldwin et al at the 2023 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting. The researchers explained that the novel cream is encapsulated in a silicone shell to control the medication’s release and reduce lesions with a minimal risk of causing irritation. In two new phase III trials, researchers treated over 700 patients who had papulopustular rosacea with the microencapsulated benzoyl peroxide or vehicle—and discovered that after 2 weeks, patients treated with the cream saw a 40% decrease in inflammatory lesions. Moreover, many patients were able to tolerate the medication without experiencing side effects like dry, itchy, scaly, stinging, or burning skin. Compared with vehicle, the cream was also effective at clearing or almost clearing the skin of 43.5% to 50.1% vs 16.1% to 25.9% of patients, respectively. In an additional study, the researchers observed a 95% rate of tolerability among 547 patients for a treatment duration of 54 weeks—highlighting the therapeutic potential of microencapsulated benzoyl peroxide for patients with papulopustular rosacea.
April 30, 2023