Written by Tabish Mehraj, PhD. In this study, the oat-and-aloe anti-inflammatory moisturizer and the aloe anti-inflammatory moisturizer both demonstrated similar investigator global assessment (IGA) scores at Week 4. By Week 8, both products showed significantly greater reduction in both erythema IGA (50% vs. 22%, p=0.001) and lesion counts (74% vs. 6%, p=0.015). At the conclusion of the 12-week study, the anti-inflammatory moisturizer produced reductions in IGA erythema of 54% vs. 23% (p<0.001) and in inflammatory lesion counts of 74% vs. 17% (p=0.044). No tolerability issues were noted.

Rosacea is a common inflammatory skin condition characterized by inflammatory lesions and facial erythema. 80% of people with rosacea experience facial redness that is difficult to control even with lifestyle changes and prescription medications. Oat kernel oil and Aloe vera contain potential anti-inflammatory compounds including aloin, polysaccharides and other bioactive ones, they inhibit NF-κB signaling and production of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-8. In this double-blind, comparator-controlled trial, researchers randomized and assessed the tolerability, efficacy, and safety of a novel botanical moisturizer containing oat kernel oil and aloe vera in adults with mild-to-severe rosacea.

The study enrolled 60 adults with rosacea, who were randomized to receive either the oat-and-aloe anti-inflammatory moisturizer or 0.75% metronidazole cream with a bland moisturizer. Both treatments were applied to the entire face twice daily for 12 weeks. Participants were assessed at baseline and during follow-up for facial erythema and inflammatory lesions.

Results/ Findings

Both treatment groups significantly reduced investigator-assessed erythema from baseline.

• At Week 4, improvements were similar between groups. By Week 8, the oat-and-aloe moisturizer achieved significantly greater reductions in erythema IGA (50% vs. 22%; p=0.001) and inflammatory lesion counts (74% vs. 6%; p=0.015) compared with metronidazole plus moisturizer.
• At Week 12, the oat-and-aloe moisturizer maintained significantly greater reductions in erythema IGA (54% vs. 23%; p<0.001) and inflammatory lesion counts (74% vs. 17%; p=0.044).
• Inflammatory lesion counts decreased significantly at all evaluated time points with the oat-and-aloe moisturizer, whereas significant reductions were not observed with the metronidazole-containing regimen.
• No tolerability issues were reported in either group. The randomized, double-blind, comparator-controlled study design reduces the potential for selection and assessment bias.
• The study included participants with mild, moderate, and severe rosacea, providing information across a range of disease severity.

There were several potential strengths of this study, including that the participants had not used topical or oral rosacea treatments during the preceding 90 days, which helped reduce potential confounding from prior treatments. Efficacy was assessed using investigator-assessed erythema scores and inflammatory lesion counts at multiple time points, enabling evaluation of changes over time. A few limitations of this study included the small sample size of only 60 participants. This limits the statistical power and the generalizability of the findings. There was 95% of participants were White, 87% were female. Therefore, the findings may not generalize well to men or individuals with darker skin types. Although erythema and inflammatory lesion counts improved, the study evaluated reductions in these measures rather than complete clearance of rosacea; therefore, the findings do not establish whether the moisturizer is sufficient as a standalone treatment for all patients. The study was funded by Crescel, the company associated with the investigational product, and the author received grant funding from Crescel to conduct the research.

In this small, 12-week randomized controlled trial, a topical moisturizer containing oat kernel oil and aloe vera produced greater reductions in investigator-assessed facial erythema and inflammatory lesion counts compared with the 0.75% metronidazole cream plus moisturizer. The product was well tolerated, with no tolerability issues reported. However, the small, predominantly White study population, short follow-up, single-center design, and manufacturer funding limit the strength and generalizability of the findings. Longer, larger independent trials in more diverse populations are needed to confirm the results and assess the durability of the benefit.

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Posted August 19, 2026.

Dr. Tabish Mehraj is a pharmaceutical scientist with expertise in pharmaceutics, drug delivery, and formulation development. She earned her PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Mississippi, where her research focused on the formulation, optimization, and characterization of lipid-based nanocarriers for targeted liver delivery of antimalarial therapeutics. Dr. Mehraj has also served as an ORISE Fellow at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where she evaluated the effects of formulation and process design on the quality and performance of intravaginal drug delivery systems and developed bio-relevant in vitro drug release testing methods. She has teaching experience in pharmaceutical and life sciences courses and has authored peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and conference presentations. Dr. Mehraj is an active member of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists and has been recognized by honor societies including Rho Chi and Gamma Beta Phi.

References:

1. Draelos, Z. D., Bruning, E., Tierney, N. K., Bjerring, P. J., Xiang, L. F., Smathers, A. B., … & Wȩgłowska, J. B. (2026). Efficacy, Tolerance, and Safety of a Novel Botanical Anti-Inflammatory Moisturizer in Rosacea: Results from a Double-Blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 25(5).