A comparison of efficacy and safety of topical 0.1% adapalene and 4% benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris

Background Acne is an extremely common disease in the adolescent age group in Pakistan. Objectives To compare the efficacy and safety of topical 0.1% adapalene and 4% benzoyl peroxide in mild to moderate acne vulgaris. Patients and methods A total of 200 evaluable patients of more than 13 years of age with either sex were enrolled. One hundred patients were treated with topical 0.1% adapalene and 100 with 4% benzoyl peroxide for 12 weeks. Patients were followed up fortnightly. Results Both treatments were generally well tolerated leading to non-compliance in only 10 patients due to side effects. Efficacy was almost 80% in both groups. Conclusions Both treatments are equally effective and safe over 24 week period. Benzoyl peroxide is more effective in the treatment of inflammatory acne whereas adapalene is beneficial for the maintenance of comedonal acne.