UCLA Seeks Adults with Acne for Study on Effects of Vitamin D

UCLA Health article
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UCLA researchers seek adults, ages 18 and older with mild to moderate facial acne, for a study about the effects of Vitamin D on the skin and immune system.

Researchers at the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition and UCLA Division of Dermatology are teaming up to assess if Vitamin D, a natural hormone that plays an essential role in the immune system's fight against invading bacteria, may also be effective against the bacteria that causes acne. 

"Acne affects millions and we are always seeking better tools and approaches to help treat it," said study researcher Dr. Jenny Kim, associate professor of medicine, division of dermatology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

Acne affects 80 percent of Americans at some point in their lives, yet limited progress has been made in developing new strategies to treat it.  The current arsenal of anti-acne tools, including benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics and Accutane (isotretinoin) - hasn't expanded in years. 

The 12-week study will include six visits to the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition. Volunteers will be assigned at random (similar to flipping a coin) to receive either a Vitamin D cream called Calcipotriene or a placebo cream to be applied twice daily to the face.

During the short clinic visits, oil and bacteria samples to be analyzed will be taken from the affected skin with a cotton swap or an over-the-counter pore-cleansing strip.

"We hope that this study may help provide valuable insight into how Vitamin D might help in treating acne," said study researcher, Dr. Zhaoping Li, professor of clinical medicine and associate director of the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition.

Study author Dr. Christina Kim, assistant clinical professor of medicine, division of dermatology, adds that the acne research may also provide information about how Vitamin D might impact other inflammatory skin disorders as well.

The study is funded by the National Institutes of Health.

For more information, please call the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition at 310-267-2702.  Volunteers will be paid up to $100 for their participation.

-UCLA-

Media Contact:
Rachel Champeau
(310) 794-2270
[email protected]

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Rachel Champeau
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