Source: DGNews  |  Posted 8 years ago

[]By Alison Palkhivala[]

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- March 25, 2003 -- A 0.1% formulation of tazarotene topical cream works better against comedonal acne than does adapalene 0.1% topical cream, according to a study.

In a multi-centre, double-blind trial led by A. Shalita from the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, United States, 173 patients with facial acne vulgaris were randomised to treatment with tazarotene 0.1% or adapalene 0.1% cream, which they applied to the face once daily every evening for 12 weeks. The findings were presented in a poster here on March 23[^]rd[] at the 61[^]st[] Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).

Prior to entry in the study, participants, all of whom were at least 12 years of age, underwent a 30-day washout period for systemic medications and 14-day washout period for topical medications that they may have been taking for acne treatment. For oestrogens or birth control pills, the washout was 12 weeks, and for oral retinoids, the washout was 12 months.

Overall, 86% of participants completed the study. Six patients in the tazarotene group and three patients in the adapalene group discontinued therapy prematurely either because of lack of efficacy or adverse events.

By week 12, 77% of patients using tazarotene achieved a 50% or greater global improvement in their acne, compared with 55% of patients using adapalene (p