Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, have suggested that by combining resveratrol, a key antioxidant present in red wine, with the acne medication benzoyl peroxide, its ability to kill the bacteria is improved, which could translate into new effective treatment to deal with acne. This study was published recently in the journal Dermatology and Therapy.

The laboratory findings have demonstrated that both compounds attack the bacteria propionibacterium acnes in distinct ways. While resveratrol stops the formation of free radicals that cause tissue damage, benzoyl peroxide kills the acne bacteria with the help of free radicals.

While resveratrol stops the formation of free radicals that cause tissue damage, benzoyl peroxide kills the acne bacteria

Emma Taylor, the study’s first author and assistant clinical professor of medicine in dermatology, said: “We firstly thought that opposite action of the two compounds would cancel out their antibacterial effects, but they didn’t. This study showed that a combination of an antioxidant and an oxidant may enhance the antibacterial activity and sustain it for a long time.”

The research team grew colonies of the acne bacteria and added different concentrations of benzoyl peroxide and resveratrol in combination and individually. They monitored the bacterial growth for 10 days and found that even though benzoyl peroxide killed the bacteria at all concentrtions, the effect lasted for only 24 hours.

Whereas, resveratrol was found to inhibit bacterial growth for a longer time, it failed to show potent bactericidal activity.

Surprisingly, the combined effects of the two compounds showed potent antibacterial activity. The study findings might lead to a development of an effective and safe topical therapy to get rid of acne.