Acne vulgaris is a common skin condition caused by various factors within the pilosebaceous unit. Propolis, a sticky, brown, and fragrant resinous material made by bees, has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and can help address some of the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris.

To compare the efficacy and safety of propolis 10% cream versus benzoyl peroxide (BPO) 5% cream on mild to moderate acne vulgaris.

The study included 46 participants with mild to moderate acne or Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA) grade 2 or 3, randomized to receive propolis 10% or BPO 5% cream twice daily for 8 weeks. Primary outcomes were IGA success rates (score of 0 or 1), 50% lesion reduction, adverse reactions, and quality of life changes measured by the DLQI.

The study found that the success rate was 15% in the propolis group and 9% in the BPO group. In clinical response, 25% of patients in the propolis group and 52.38% in the benzoyl peroxide (BPO) group showed improvement in inflammatory lesions. For non-inflammatory lesions, 5% of patients in the propolis group demonstrated improvement, compared to 28.57% in the BPO group (p=0.538). 5% of the propolis group reported itching and burning, while 9.52% of the BPO group reported scaling (p=0.1806). Both groups showed significant decreases in DLQI scores from baseline to the fourth follow-up.

Topical propolis 10% cream can be an alternative acne treatment, given its comparable effect to BPO and its excellent safety profile.