Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39413013›Full record

Trial reportJournal of cosmetic dermatology2025

Ferulic Acid in the Treatment of Papulopustular Rosacea: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Xing Wang, Yonghong Xue, Hongzi Zhu, Jingjie Zhang, Meiling Li, Wenxiu Ge, Zengxiang Luo, Xiangfeng Yuan, Dong Zhang, Weiyuan Ma

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Xing WangDepartment of Dermatology, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China.
Yonghong XueYantai Xianse Trading Co., Ltd., Yantai, Shandong, China.
Hongzi ZhuDepartment of Dermatology, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China.
Jingjie ZhangDepartment of Dermatology, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China.
Meiling LiDepartment of Dermatology, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China.
Wenxiu GeDepartment of Dermatology, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China.
Zengxiang LuoDepartment of Dermatology, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China.
Xiangfeng YuanDepartment of Dermatology, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China.
Dong ZhangDepartment of Dermatology, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China.
Weiyuan MaDepartment of Dermatology, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China.

Funding

Doctoral Startup Fund of Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University 2021BKQ02
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by flushing, erythema, papules, and pustules on the central face. It affects patient appearance and is noted for its chronicity, recurrence, and resistance to treatment. Effective rosacea treatment requires repairing the skin barrier, reducing inflammation, and promoting vasoconstriction.

aimsThis study aims to evaluate the efficacy of topical ferulic acid in treating papulopustular rosacea and its impact on skin barrier function.

methodsSixty patients with mild to moderate papulopustular rosacea were selected from the Department of Dermatology at the Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University between January 2023 and December 2023. Patients were randomly assigned to either a control group or an observation group, with 30 patients in each group. The observation group applied ferulic acid solution to the affected areas, while the control group used normal saline, both twice daily for 6 weeks. Both groups also received 0.1 g doxycycline hydrochloride tablets orally once daily. Skin lesions and skin barrier function were assessed using VISIA imaging and self-rating scales before and during treatment, and adverse reactions were recorded.

resultsAfter 6 weeks, both skin lesion assessments and self-assessment scores improved significantly from baseline, with greater improvement in the observation group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Indicators of skin barrier function and VISIA imaging results demonstrated the efficacy of ferulic acid in treating rosacea. The total effective rate was significantly higher in the observation group (80.00%) compared to the control group (63.33%) (p < 0.05). In the observation group, nine patients (30.00%) experienced a greasy sensation initially, one patient (3.33%) reported tingling and itching, and no serious adverse reactions were observed.

conclusionsFerulic acid is effective as an adjuvant treatment for papulopustular rosacea, significantly improving skin lesions and repairing skin barrier function with minimal adverse reactions.

Indexed as

Coumaric AcidsDermatologic AgentsRosaceaAdministration, CutaneousAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesSeverity of Illness IndexSkinTreatment OutcomeYoung AdultCoumaric AcidsDermatologic Agentsferulic acidefficacyferulic acidpapulopustular typerosaceaskin barrier

Identifiers

PMID39413013
PMCPMC11743247

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.