Comparative Efficacy and Safety Results of Two Topical Combination Acne Regimens

Combination therapy has become the standard for the management of acne, particularly for moderate-to-severe cases. Among these combinations, those regimens containing benzoyl peroxide (BPO), clindamycin and a retinoid have been used frequently as they address most aspects of acne pathogenesis. This study compares the effi cacy and safety of two common topical treatment regimens in the treatment of a moderate to severe facial acne vulgaris: fi xed-combination gel containing BPO 5% and clindamycin 1% (BPO/C) plus tretinoin microsphere gel 0.04% (RAM) versus a regimen of a fi xed-combination gel containing clindamycin phosphate 1.2% and tretinoin 0.025% (CPT) plus a once-daily BPO 5% wash. While both regimens were safe and effective, regimen BPO/C+RAM yielded a more rapid onset of effect versus regimen CPT+BPO against both non-infl ammatory and infl ammatory lesions. Both treatment regimens were well-tolerated.