Acne is one of the most common chronic inflammatory dermatological disorder associated with multifactorial pathogenesis. Approximately 95 % of the population suffers from it at some point in their lifetime. Antibiotics, acids, benzoyl peroxide, and retinoids are the most commonly drugs used for the treatment of acne. However, conventional formulations of these drugs are associated with undesirable toxicities, inadequate penetration across stratum corneum, short retention time of the drug in the target site, and poor aqueous solubility of drugs, that limited their medicinal applications. As a consequence pharmaceutical researchers are turning towards novel drug delivery systems to overcome these limitations.With respect to their small particle size, lipid occlusive nature and unique surface characteristics, lipid nanocarriers can promote skin hydration, enhance drug permeation, improve its targeting properties and retention time on the skin, increase drug solubility and protect it from degradation, provide sustained drug release and reduce dosing frequency. The current review summarizes the better nanotechnological systems that can be used in future for better and effective treatment of acne.

Acne is one of the most common chronic inflammatory dermatological disorder associated with multifactorial pathogenesis. Approximately 95 % of the population suffers from it at some point in their lifetime. Antibiotics, acids, benzoyl peroxide, and retinoids are the most commonly drugs used for the treatment of acne. However, conventional formulations of these drugs are associated with undesirable toxicities, inadequate penetration across stratum corneum, short retention time of the drug in the target site, and poor aqueous solubility of drugs, that limited their medicinal applications. As a consequence pharmaceutical researchers are turning towards novel drug delivery systems to overcome these limitations.With respect to their small particle size, lipid occlusive nature and unique surface characteristics, lipid nanocarriers can promote skin hydration, enhance drug permeation, improve its targeting properties and retention time on the skin, increase drug solubility and protect it from degradation, provide sustained drug release and reduce dosing frequency. The current review summarizes the better nanotechnological systems that can be used in future for better and effective treatment of acne.