Good bacteria cream could be new acne weapon
NCT ID NCT07366229
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests a cream made from a common probiotic, Lactobacillus reuteri, that has been coated with a special material to help it survive on the skin. The goal is to see if it can rebalance the skin's bacteria and reduce acne. About 196 people with mild to moderate acne will use the cream nightly for 2 weeks and be followed for 8 weeks. The cream is compared to plain probiotic cream, a placebo, and a standard acne treatment.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- engineered Lactobacillus reuteri cream with a zinc sulfate-tannic acid coating
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a new, natural-seeming acne treatment that targets skin bacteria instead of using harsh chemicals.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase trial. The probiotic cream may not work better than existing treatments, and the coating's effect on skin is still unknown.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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About 196 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Dec 2025
- Expected to finish
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Jun 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 33 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Subjects must be diagnosed with acne (based on history, clinical manifestation, and dermatoscopy) and classified as Grade I to III per the International Improved Grading System. 2. Subjects must be willing and able to provide written informed consent. 3. Subjects must be 18 to 33 years of age and in generally good health. 4. Subjects must have more than 9 inflammatory lesions. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Have used antibiotics within 1 month before the study start. 2. Have used systemic retinoid therapy within 3 months before the study start. 3. Have undergone any other acne treatment within 1 month before the study start. 4. Have any other condition that the investigator considers would make participation unsuitable (e.g., deemed unreliable, non-compliant, or unable to comprehend the study assessments).
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Shenzhen People's Hospital
RECRUITINGShenzhen, Guangdong, China
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