The 2026 paper reports no trial results because it is a trial protocol, not a results study. A protocol publishes the treatment plan, patient group, and measurements before enrollment starts. The paper outlines added oral probiotics and topical secretome for acne vulgaris. Probiotic means live microbes taken by mouth, and secretome means cell-free factors applied to skin.
Medical information disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a physician or other qualified health professional about symptoms, medications, tests, or treatment decisions.
Table of Contents
- What will the trial test?
- Who would join and how is change measured?
- Why does this not answer persistent adult acne?
- What should adults with persistent acne do now?
What will the trial test?
The design is a Phase 2 double-blind randomized trial with four parallel arms. Each arm pairs standard acne therapy with an active adjunct or matching placebo. The registry record for the Universitas Padjadjaran study describes this four-arm comparison.
The adjuncts are oral HEXBIO probiotic as a dietary supplement and topical mesenchymal stromal cell secretome. Secretome is the cell-free secreted mix of growth factors, cytokines, and extracellular vesicles. That mix acts through immunomodulation, as described in a STEM CELLS review.
Who would join and how is change measured?
The planned group is 64 patients with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris. Treatment would last 8 weeks at Bali Mandara General Hospital dermatology department, with baseline and post-therapy measurements.
The ICH GCP registry entry, updated 6 April 2025, lists NCT06925386 as not yet recruiting, according to the ICH GCP registry entry. Eligibility focus, from the registry record, is narrow: The prespecified primary outcome is fewer comedones and inflammatory lesions counted by Yolov8 lesion counting. Secondary gut-skin measures include tryptophan metabolites, collagen, pH, moisture, sebum, and IL-6.
- mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris
- care at one hospital dermatology department
- 8-week treatment course with before-and-after checks
Why does this not answer persistent adult acne?
The protocol covers a small, short, single-center study in mild-to-moderate acne. Sixty-four patients and eight weeks limit what can be learned. One site also limits variation in skin type, care routines, and environment.
So the design cannot prove efficacy, safety, durability, or wider use for persistent or severe adult acne. Adults with ongoing breakouts, jawline lesions, or scarring fall outside the planned group. Longer follow-up would be needed to judge relapse after stopping.
What should adults with persistent acne do now?
Continue proven care while this research remains unstarted. BMJ Open published the protocol on 4 June 2026 as e109586 by Lestari et al., according to the BMJ Open record. No efficacy claim can follow from a protocol alone.
The 2024 American Academy of Dermatology guideline strongly recommends benzoyl peroxide, topical retinoids, and combinations. The Academy found insufficient evidence for probiotic or complementary acne therapies, as reported by MedicalXpress, according to the MedicalXpress report on the Academy guidance. Ask a dermatologist to review current prescriptions, adherence, irritation, and follow-up timing.
You Might Also Like
- Why the 2026 Probiotic and Secretome Paper Reports No Trial Results Yet: Why the Findings May Not Change Acne Care Yet for Adults With Persistent Acne
- The 2026 Oral Probiotic and Topical Secretome Acne Trial Protocol: A Source-Checked 2026 Briefing for Adults With Persistent Acne
- Skin Microbiome Outcomes in the 2026 Probiotic Acne Review: A Source-Checked 2026 Briefing for Adults With Persistent Acne