Abstract
BACKGROUND: Acne vulgaris is one of the most common dermatological illnesses affecting people worldwide. In Pakistan, approximately 9.4% of the population and between 5% and 16% of young adults are affected by acne vulgaris. Conventional therapies (topical benzoyl peroxide, retinoids, antibiotics and oral isotretinoin) are effective but limited by antibiotic resistance and side effects. Curcumin (a natural anti-inflammatory/antimicrobial from turmeric) and serratiopeptidase (a proteolytic enzyme with anti-inflammatory, anti-oedematous and antibiofilm properties) each show promise in acne treatment. This article evaluates the efficacy of a combined oral curcumin plus serratiopeptidase formulation as an adjunct to inflammatory acne therapy. METHODS: Fifty individuals with mild-to-moderate symptoms of inflammatory acne participated in this quasi-experimental study. They were allocated to standard therapy alone (topical regimen: benzoyl peroxide 5% and adapalene 0.1% gel; oral doxycycline 100 mg once daily) or standard therapy plus a daily curcumin (500 mg) + serratiopeptidase (10 mg) supplement (adjunctive therapy). Acne severity was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and lesion improvement scale at baseline, 1 week and 2 weeks of treatment. Data were analysed with parametric tests after normalization (log transformation), with significance set at p<0.05. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were similar between groups (mean age: 23 years; 66% female). Both groups showed significant improvement in mean VAS (from 7.5 at baseline to 3.1 at 2 weeks; p<0.001). The adjunctive therapy group achieved a markedly higher complete/near-complete improvement rate by week 2 (84% versus 28%; p<0.001). No serious adverse events occurred. CONCLUSION: Curcumin plus serratiopeptidase, as an adjunct to standard therapy significantly, accelerated the resolution of inflammatory acne lesions within 2 weeks, with excellent tolerability. This novel combination targets inflammatory pathways and could reduce reliance on prolonged antibiotics. Larger, longer-term studies are recommended to confirm these findings and evaluate effects on relapse and scarring.