Evaluation of the effect of zinc acetate on the stratum corneum penetration kinetics of erythromycin in healthy male volunteers.

What Was Tested

Researchers studied Erythromycin in this randomized controlled trial publication.

Erythromycin with or without additional zinc acetate is used topically in the treatment of acne vulgaris.

A potential effect of zinc on the stratum corneum penetration of erythromycin was investigated in human volunteers.

Who Took Part

The study group was 12 subjects.

PubMed tags the participants as men only.

How the Study Was Run

The design is described as randomized and double-blind.

Random assignment meant chance, not the researchers, decided who got Erythromycin and who got the comparison, which limits bias.

Blinding on both sides kept the subjects and researchers unaware of who received Erythromycin.

What Was Measured

Skin surface washings and tape strippings from the skin of the back were collected after drug applications in 12 subjects for quantification of erythromycin levels.

The subject headings attached to it are Acetates, Acetic Acid, Acne Vulgaris, Administration, Topical, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Drug Combinations and Epidermis.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized and double-blind study of Erythromycin in 12 subjects.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The publication is from 1996 (Skin pharmacology : the official journal of the Skin Pharmacology Society), a journal based in Switzerland.

More context: all human trials.