Acne is an inflammatory skin ailment, one of the common diseases in the sebaceous glands of skin. It occurs most commonly to the young people in their adolescence but sometimes it continues consistently until their middle-adged. Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) bacillus, nourished mainly by sebaceous matter, creates free fatty acid by dissolving triglyceride, the main ingredient of sebum. Free fatty acid created through this process stimulates the skin so harshly that inflammation happens to hair follicle walls or pores of the skin cells. Alginate, richly contained in marine algae such as brown seaweeds and tangle-weeds, faces a rapid increase in demand for a wide utilization as a medical material, finding out its containment of anti-bacterial materials and unique effects of physiological function. The extract of marine algae is utilized in protection, hydration and softening of skin.
The aims of this study are: 1) to find out the anti-bacterial properties of Ag-alginate and the control group such as lavender, tea tree, depolymerized alginate, silver nano-particle on P. acnes. and 2) to heal the acne after application of the astringent and soap containing Ag-alginate to youngsters who are the main streams of acne victims.
Results of this study could be summarized as follows: Antibacterial effect of Ag-alginate against P. acnes bacillus showed the Lowest MIC (200 ㎍/㎖) compared with the control group of lavender (20,000 ㎍/㎖), and depolymerized alginate (10,000 ㎍/㎖), which means the anti bacterial property of Ag-alginate on P. acnes bacillus is 50 times more effective than that of the control group. The MIC of Ag-alginate solution against P. acnes bacillus is 350 ㎍/㎖ and the anti-bacterial effect by cultivation time against P. acnes bacillus showed the highest effect with Ag-alginate solution in 400 ㎍/㎖ concentration. The acnes showed improvements in papules and pustules after using the soap and astringent containing 700 ㎍/㎖ of Ag-alginate solution. It was proved that the Ag-alginate solution could improve the acne skin by reducing oil on the skin surface and controling the P. acnes that causes acne appearance. With prolonged use, however, it might cause skin stimulus and dryness. Accordingly, it is suggested that effective means such as skin care should be implemented together.