The mode of action of ethyl lactate as a treatment for acne

Abstract

We have shown that an alcoholic lotion containing ethyl lactate when applied topically to rat skin under occlusion became localized in the follicles and sebaceous glands. When applied to human facial skin the ethyl lactate was hydrolysed to ethanol and lactic acid, and thereby lowered the skin pH. Under such conditions the growth of recoverable skin bacteria, in particular the anaerobe Propionibacterium acnes, was inhibited, and the hydrolysis of sebum to free fatty acids by lipase derived from the bacteria was greatly impaired. These effects of ethyl lactate would account for its observed clinical efficacy in acne vulgaris.

Residual antibacterial activity of dog hairs after therapy with antimicrobial shampoos

“…Ethanol dissolves fatty acids and lowers sebaceous secretion. Lactic acid inhibits bacterial lipases, thus resulting in bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity . This hydrolysation may be short lived and may not occur on the hair shaft after the procedure of shampooing.…”

“…Lactic acid inhibits bacterial lipases, thus resulting in bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity. 18,19 This hydrolysation may be short lived and may not occur on the hair shaft after the procedure of shampooing. Different results of inhibition of bacterial growth may have been achieved with different isolates of S. pseudintermedius, because different antimicrobial susceptibility patterns are possible with different strains.…”

A review of topical therapy for skin infections with bacteria and yeast

“…Ethyl lactate is metabolized to ethanol and lactic acid by bacterial lipases in hair follicles and sebaceous glands. Ethanol solubilizes lipids and lactic acid lowers the skin pH, resulting in a bactericidal effect 44 . In humans, ethyl lactate was used successfully for acne vulgaris 44,45 .…”

Topical treatment of canine pyodermas

“…Η βακτηριο-κτόνος δράση θα πρέπει να αποδοθεί στην έντονη λιπο-διαλυτότητά του με αποτέλεσμα την εύκολη διείσδυση στους θυλάκους των τριχών και στους σμηγματογόνους α δένες όπου, με τη δράση των βακτηριδιακών λιπασών, υ-δρολΰεται σε γαλακτικό οξΰ και αιθανόλη. Και οι δΰο αυ τές ουσίες σκοτώνουν τα βακτηρίδια, ενώ η αιθανόλη έχει επιπλέον απολιπαντική και κομεδολυτική δράση 20 . Οι συγ γράφεις πιστεΰουν ότι το γαλακτικό αιθΰλιο μπορεί να δώ σει εξίσου καλά αποτελέσματα και στις εν τω βάθει πυώ δεις δερματίτιδες.…”