Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by neutrophils are closely correlated with the pathogenesis of a variety of inflammatory skin diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the amount of reactive oxygen species (hydrogen peroxide) generated by neutrophils from patients with acne inflammation decrease after oral administration of standard doses of isotretinoin.

In order to measure neutrophil hydrogen peroxide production, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA, neutrophil stimulant), was added to whole blood. Intracellular dichlorofluorescein (DCF) fluorescence of neutrophils was determined by flow cytometry. In order to assess treatment efficacy, we used a Global Acne Grading Score (GAGS) and assessed the efficacy based on examinations at baseline and week 8.

Patients with acne inflammation showed a significantly increased level of hydrogen peroxide produced by neutrophils compared to healthy controls. Patients with acne inflammation treated with isotretinoin showed a significant decrease in the ability of neutrophils to produce hydrogen peroxide in accordance with a clinical improvement of acne lesions.

Our result shows that the generation of ROS which induce a chemical insult to the integrity of the follicular epithelium in acne, can be suppressed in isotretinoin-treated acne patients.