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Efficacy and safety of clindamycin gel plus either benzoyl peroxide gel or adapalene gel in the treatment of acne: a randomized open-label study

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Abstract

Aim

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of clindamycin gel + benzoyl peroxide gel and clindamycin gel + adapalene gel in the treatment of mild to moderate acne.

Methodology

A prospective, randomized, open-label, parallel-group study was carried out in patients with mild to moderate acne. Patients were randomized to receive once-daily topical treatment with clindamycin 1.0 % gel + benzoyl peroxide 2.5 % gel (group A; n = 15) or clindamycin 1.0 % gel + adapalene 0.1 % gel (group B; n = 15). Patients were followed up after 1 month of treatment and their change in acne status was analysed.

Results

The mean age of patients was 20.9 ± 3.14 years, with twice as many males as females. At baseline, 47 % and 53 % of patients had grade 1 and 2 acne, respectively, with most (73 %) having acne with hyperpigmentation. Both treatment groups had a significant (p < 0.05) improvement in acne grade. Relative to their initial acne symptoms, 60 % of patients in group A were ‘better’, 33 % had ‘no change’ and 7 % had ‘worsened’. In group B, an improvement in acne symptoms was observed in all patients. The symptomatic improvements in group B appeared to be better than those in group A (p < 0.05). One patient in group A developed photosensitivity, which was probably related to treatment with benzoyl peroxide.

Conclusion

Clindamycin + benzoyl peroxide gel and clindamycin + adapalene gel are both effective in the treatment of mild to moderate acne, with clindamycin + adapalene showing a significantly greater reduction in the overall acne grading in this small study.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. Gaurav Modi, Assistant Professor, Community Medicine, for his help in the statistical analysis of the data. The authors would also like to thank Dr. Feni Bilimoria, Professor and Head, Department of Skin, Dhiraj Hospital, for giving permission to carry out this study in the dermatology department.

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None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, SBKS Medical Institute and Research Centre, Piparia, Vadodara, Gujarat, India

    Sneh Dudhia, Palak Agrawal & Sanjay Date

  2. Department of Pharmacology, GMERS Medical College, Gandhinagar, 382012, Gujarat, India

    Rima B. Shah

  3. Department of Dermatology, SBKS Medical Institute and Research Centre, Piparia, Vadodara, Gujarat, India

    Aishani Shah

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  1. Sneh Dudhia
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  2. Rima B. Shah
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  3. Palak Agrawal
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Correspondence to Rima B. Shah.

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Dudhia, S., Shah, R.B., Agrawal, P. et al. Efficacy and safety of clindamycin gel plus either benzoyl peroxide gel or adapalene gel in the treatment of acne: a randomized open-label study. Drugs Ther Perspect 31, 208–212 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40267-015-0208-y

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