Epiology acne cream contains immune proteins found in milk, said to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
Quantec founder and managing director Dr Rod Claycomb says using New Zealand milk is important.
“We did not have to use New Zealand milk but we want to,” Claycomb told Dairy News. “The clean green image of the dairy industry and the quality milk produced by our farmers has boosted our product.”
He says the enzymes and proteins in the cream are essentially the same as those produced by mammals as protection against potentially harmful bacteria and other microorganisms.
“These enzymes and proteins… naturally occur and provide a protective function in saliva and around gums, tears, raw milk and throughout the gut. This raw ingredient, which we call IDP, is the key component of the acne cream.”
When applied to the skin, it leaves the natural and beneficial bacteria of the skin largely unaffected, “creating an ideal scenario for managing acne. In addition, the bio-proteins interact with inflamed tissues and cells to help quell the inflammatory response, which is a primary cause of acne,” says Claycomb.
Quantec says it has has spent seven years on the project. During 2012 it ran randomised double-blind trials in the US on 84 subjects with mild-to-moderate acne.
The Epiology cream was compared with two other products with FDA-approved acne-active ingredients, one a US retail brand containing 2% salicylic acid plus retinol, the other a salicylic acid-based formulation.
After six weeks the leading US brand and Epiology reduced acne lesions to the same degree. But the Epiology cream did better overall in reducing acne-related redness and inflammation, Claycomb says.
Epiology products are sold in pharmacies.
