PoreWise

One finding · Human trial · 2026

Study title

Efficacy and safety of a novel anhydrous 0.1% retinal and 10% azelaic acid concentrate for blemish-prone skin: an eight-week randomized prospective split-face, vehicle-controlled study

Kind of evidence
Human trial 2026 · 23 people · participants aged 16-49 (mean 28), Fitzpatrick I-IV, blemish-prone skin · PMID 42572367
Measured outcome
Skin effect
Year
2026
Who was studied
23 participants aged 16-49 (mean 28), Fitzpatrick I-IV, blemish-prone skin
Sample size
23
Measured outcome
In an 8-week randomized, vehicle-controlled split-face study of 23 people with blemish-prone skin, an anhydrous 0.1% retinal / 10% azelaic acid concentrate improved the pore parameter by 22.3% versus vehicle (p=0.015) and skin texture by 5.6% versus vehicle (p=0.0016), and reduced surface irregularities by 12.7% versus vehicle (p=0.0053).
Certainty
Moderate
Who was measured
Pore appearance, skin texture and surface irregularities on the face over 8 weeks.
Study limits
The pore improvement versus baseline was borderline (15.9%, p=0.051); the small sample completed 23 participants; the product is a six-ingredient concentrate; 10% azelaic acid is regulated as an OTC drug in some markets.

Where it comes from

PMID 42572367

Ingredients it was measured on

Skin concerns studied

Other findings on the same ingredient or concern

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    Human trial · 2024 · 72 people · patients with mild-to-moderate acne (60 completed) · People with mild-to-moderate acne and acne-induced post-inflammatory erythema or hyperpigmentation, applying the gel twice daily for 12 weeks. · PIH lesion counts improved from baseline in both groups; the significant between-group difference was in PAHPI and melanin content.

    PMID 38734843

  2. Skin effect
    Assessing the Value of Botanical Anti-Inflammatory Agents in an OTC Acne Treatment Regimen

    In a 12-week randomized trial of 80 subjects aged 12 and over with mild-to-moderate acne, a botanical anti-inflammatory OTC skincare regimen produced significantly lower closed-comedone counts than a benzoyl peroxide comparator at week 4 (P<0.001) and week 12 (P=0.006), with fewer inflammatory lesions at week 4 (P=0.016).

    Human trial · 2015 · 80 people · subjects aged 12+ with mild-to-moderate acne · Closed-comedone and inflammatory lesion counts over 12 weeks. · The comparator is an active benzoyl peroxide regimen.

    PMID 26659934

  3. Skin effect
    Evaluation of anti-wrinkle effects of a novel cosmetic containing niacinamide

    In a randomized, placebo-controlled split-face study of 30 healthy Japanese women, a cosmetic containing 4% niacinamide reduced the skin-surface average roughness (Ra) value significantly more than the niacinamide-free control site after 8 weeks (P<0.05).

    Human trial · 2008 · 30 people · healthy Japanese women with wrinkles in the eye areas · Skin-surface roughness measured by replica profilometry (Ra). · Measured at the eye area on a photoaged/wrinkle cohort; the endpoint is surface roughness.

    PMID 19017042

  4. Skin effect
    The effect of physically applied alpha hydroxyl acids on the skin pore and comedone

    In 23 women, a single application of a 4% alpha-hydroxy acid solution combined with negative-pressure physical action significantly reduced whitehead and blackhead counts at 1, 2 and 4 weeks, and reduced pore area and number at week 1, compared with AHA peeling alone.

    Human trial · 2015 · 23 people · healthy women (mean age 30) · Healthy women receiving a single in-clinic application in a randomised split-face design, assessed at 1, 2 and 4 weeks. · The intervention was a single in-clinic chemical peeling plus negative-pressure physical action.

    PMID 26032934

  5. Skin effect
    Efficacy and safety of a facial serum and a mask containing salicylic acid and lipohydroxy acid in acne management: A randomized controlled trial

    In 83 adults with comedones, a serum containing salicylic acid and lipohydroxy acid significantly improved open comedones on the nose, closed comedones on the face, skin pore density, sebum secretion and skin hydration from baseline after 8 weeks; adding a mask improved closed comedones more than the serum alone (-6.56 vs -5.19, p = 0.022).

    Human trial · 2023 · 83 people · adults with comedones (41 serum+mask, 42 serum alone) · Adults in Shanghai with comedones, PIE and PIH, using the serum for 8 weeks. · Both groups used active products; improvements were reported against baseline and between the two active groups. Industry-funded. This is the trial found that counted open and closed comedones separately.

    PMID 36999489