WINLEVI: Groundbreaking Research for Acne Treatment

We know well that certain laser treatments and cosmetic skin procedures are not safe for skin of color. Have you ever given proper thought to how topical acne prescriptions and treatments can impact darker skin tones? For quite some time now, perscription topical WINLEVI (clascoterone) cream 1 percent has revolutionized the way acne is treated. Now, even more breakthrough news on the innovative treatment, as nine new clinical studies conducted on skin of color revealed WINLEVI to be a powerful, effective and safe treatment for acne on skin of color.

Featured Experts

• Leon Kircik, MD is a dermatologist in Louisville, Kentucky
• Ron Robinson is a cosmetic chemist and founder of BeautyStat
• Danielle James is a beauty expert, influencer and WINLEVI user

WINLEVI for Skin of Color: What the Research Shows

Thanks to an innovative, 16-week data study with patients of color, we know now that WINLEVI works well in people with skin of color. The data from the study showed WINLEVI reduced acne severity with no reports of adverse side effects during the 16-week interim analysis period. At the end of the study, seven patients—78 percent—achieved clear or almost clear skin. Patients also demonstrated a 91.8 percent reduction in inflammatory lesions and a 90.9 percent reduction in noninflammatory and total overall lesions. Why are these findings so important? The efficacy of topical, prescription acne treatments can vary greatly across skin tones. While sebum production is similar across all Fitzpatrick Scale skin tones, people with darker skin are much more likely to experience post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. WINLEVI is the only prescription acne product that targets sebum and oil production, dramatically reducing the risk of post-acne marks in patients of color.

Why are certain acne topicals not recommended for skin of color?

“Because certain products are more irritating, they cause more inflammation, and as a result, they cause more post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation,” Dr. Kircik says. “Post-acne hyperpigmentation is what most of the skin of color patients suffer from the most severely. One unique aspect of why WINLEVI works so well for patients of color is because it’s not a topical retinoid as most other prescription acne products are. Topical retinoids do irritate quite a bit, but with WINLEVI, irritation is minimal because of its mechanism of action—it’s a hormone inhibitor and it works differently to control sebum production with little irritation.” Robinson adds, “It’s a fine balance of finding ingredients that are going to help clean out pores but aren’t going to irritate or inflame the skin and lead to post-acne hyperpigmentation.”

From a consumer perspective, James adds, “I am someone that has more of like sensitive skin and something like retinols I don’t really use a lot of, but I have been using WINLEVI. I actually been using it on my chest since I’ve been suffering from body acne, and the chest is such a sensitive area of your skin. I haven’t seen any kind of negative effects.”

How is WINLEVI a part of an acne routine for patients of color?

“WINLEVI is a twice-a-day prescription topical,” says Dr. Kircik. “You need to use it twice a day to get the full effect. In terms of other products you should use with WINLEVI, a moisturizer [and] simple cleanser will pretty much take care of everything. And, of course, in the morning you need to add sunscreen into your treatment regimen.”

What is the most important advice you can give to patients of color struggling with acne?

“The most important advice I can give to patients of color struggling with acne is to consult a dermatologist, specifically one who specializes in treating darker skin tones. I also recommend seeing a dermatologist early to get ahead of the problem and discuss your options for prescription treatments early.”

James adds an important word of wisdom for fellow people of color dealing with acne. “Don’t suffer in silence. There’s this common myth we all hear that ‘Black don’t crack,’ or that we as Black people don’t need anything for our skin, but we do. You should be going [and] seeing a dermatologist once a year because you should be getting your skin checked, and the same way as you would see your physician regularly, you need to do the same for the skin. Your skin is the largest organ on your body, and it’s interesting to see how many people ignore it. My best advice is if you see something, say something and actually be proactive about it because the sooner you address it, the sooner it could clear up.”