Polyherbal Gel in the Management of Acne and Hyperpigmentation: A Review

Acne Vulgaris and including hyperpigmentation are relatively common skin problems throughout the world today. Most individuals affected with vulgar or including hyperpigmentation suffer considerable emotional or mental trauma due to their appearance and the embarrassment associated with it. The conventional methods utilize manmade pharmaceutical grade medication that provides substantial side effects, including but not limited to skin irritation, dryness and permanent scarring to the skin. With this in mind, there has been a strong demand for natural and or herbal alternatives for the treatment of vulgar acne and hyperpigmentation from the global Population.1,14 This study was focused on the design, formulation, development and evaluation of a natural or herbal based formulation called a polyherbal gel for the topical management of vulgar acne and hyperpigmentation. The polyherbal gel used a unique combination of herbal ingredients (neem, turmeric, aloe vera, and liquorice) for their proven benefits, including their anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant properties and ability to lighten skin pigmentation.4 The formulation of the polyherbal gel utilized a natural gelling agent Carbopol to prepare and optimize the gel for consistency, stability and ease of application. In addition to an assessment of the physicochemical properties of the gel (pH, viscosity, spreadability, homogeneity, and appearance), an evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of the polyherbal gel against the bacteria that cause vulgar acne was also conducted to assess its efficacy.8 In addition to the experimental assessments to demonstrate the effectiveness of the formulation as a topical treatment modality of vulgar acne and hyperpigmentation, a stability study of the formulation was conducted under a different environment and temperature to assess the long-term stability and performance of the gel. Based upon the characteristics of the physicochemical properties and stability of the formulated gel and the significant antimicrobial activity, and in accordance with the traditional use of the polyherbal ingredients, it can be assumed with reasonable confidence of the efficacy of the polyherbal gel in the treatment of vulgar acne and including hyperpigmentation.13,14 To conclude, the formulated polyherbal gel proved to be an effective, safe, and cost-effective alternative to synthetic compounds for treating acne and hyperpigmentation. This research indicates that topical herbal-based formulations may have potential uses within dermatology and warrant additional study and commercialization.