Objective

2

To observe the clinical efficacy of modified Qiaohetang and Xiehuangsan in the treatment of acne due to dampness-heat accumulation and its influence on the levels of inflammatory factors and sex hormones.

Method

2

One hundred and sixty-eight eligible patients were divided into an observation group （84 cases） and a control group （84 cases） according to the random number table. Adapalene gel was applied externally in both groups， one time per day. In the control group， Jinhua Xiaocuo pills was taken orally， 4 g per time， three times a day. In the observation group， the modified Qiaohetang and Xiehuangsan was provided for oral administration， one bag per day. The treatment lasted for eight weeks. The Global Acne Grading System （GAGS） score， skin lesion count， dampness-heat accumulation syndrome score， and Dermatology Life Quality Index （DLQI） score were recorded before and after treatment， followed by the detection of interleukin-8 （IL-8）， IL-10， IL-17， interferon-

γ

（IFN-

γ

）， free testosterone （FT）， estradiol （E

2

） and sex hormone binding globulin （SHBG） before and after treatment as well as the safety evaluation.

Result

2

The GAGS， dampness-heat accumulation syndrome， and DLQI scores of the observation group were lower than those of the control group （

P

<

0.01）. The counts of inflammatory skin lesions （papule and pustule）， non-inflammatory skin lesions， and total skin lesions in the observation group declined in contrast to those in the control group （

P

<

0.01）. The IL-8， IL-17， IFN-

γ

and FT levels of the observation group were decreased as compared with those of the control group （

P

<

0.05，

P

<

0.01）， while the IL-10， E

2

， and SHBG levels were increased （

P

<

0.01）. The overall response rate in clinical symptom alleviation of the observation group was 93.67%（74/79）， which was higher than 81.82%（63/77） of the control group （

χ

2

=5.121，

P

<

0.05）. The overall response rate in dampness-heat accumulation syndrome relief of the observation group was 92.41% （73/79）， still higher than 79.22% （61/77） of the control group （

χ

2

=5.595，

P

<

0.05）. No adverse reactions occurred after the oral administration of Chinese medicinal preparations.

Conclusion

2

The modified Qiaohetang and Xiehuangsan combined with adapalene gel can reduce the skin lesion count and severity， relieve both clinical symptoms and dampness-heat accumulation syndrome， regulate the inflammatory response and sex hormones， and improve the quality of life of patients with acne of dampness-heat accumulation syndrome without inducing side effects.