Inhibitory effects of Cheongsangbangpoong-tang on both inflammatory acne lesion and facial heat in patients with acne vulgaris: A double-blinded randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the inhibitory effects of an herbal formulation of Cheongsangbangpoong-tang (CBT) on inflammatory acne lesions as the control of the 'Heat' pattern.

Design: A single center study. Randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel group, double-blind trial SETTING: Fifty-six subjects, who had more than 10 acne inflammatory lesions each, were randomly allocated into the CBT or placebo groups and took 5 g CBT extract (CBT group) or 5 g placebo extract (control group), respectively, three times a day for 8 weeks. Pattern identification, change of the inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne lesions, temperature of the facial points, serum cortisol level, serum dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate level, number rating scale, investigator global assessment (IGA), and severity score on the Korean acne grading system were measured.

Main outcome measure: mean change of the inflammatory acne lesions.

Results: After CBT/placebo administration, the percentage count of inflammatory lesions in subjects was significantly reduced in the CBT group when compared with the control group. The other outcomes showed no significant difference between the two groups. On pattern identification, subjects with the Wind-Heat pattern (, WHP) and Disharmony of the thoroughfare and conception vessels pattern (, DTCVP) tended show better effect than those with other patterns.

Conclusions: CBT is a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of acne vulgaris, linked to inhibition of inflammatory lesions and facial heat.

Trial registration: CRiS (Clinical Research Information Service, Republic of Korea), KCT0001468. Registered 06 May 2015.

Keywords: Acne vulgaris; Anti-inflammation; Cheongsangbangpoong-tang; Chinese herbal medicine; Facial heat; Randomized controlled trial.