DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2023.v11i08.005

Pages: 1408-1417

Background: Acne is an inflammatory disorder of pilosebaceous unit. Various topical medications are used for acne treatment such as antibiotics, retinoids, etc. Retinoids are commonly used to treat comedonal acne due to their keratolytic and anti-inflammatory properties. Antibiotics are effective against inflammatory acne lesions and are often combined with retinoids to minimize formation of antibiotic resistance. Objective: To compare safety and efficacy of clindamycin 1% with adapalene 0.1% combination over adapalene 0.1% alone in treatment of mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris. Methods: This interventional study was carried out in the department of Dermatology & Venereology of Enam Medical College and Hospital between January and December 2019. A total of 50 patients with mild to moderate facial acne who met the inclusion criteria and provided consent were enrolled in the study. They were divided into two groups as group A (clindamycin 1% with adapalene 0.1%) and group B (adapalene 0.1%) in a 1:1 ratio following a simple randomization method. Patients of both Group A and B were advised to apply topical adapalene gel 0.1% once daily for a period of 12 weeks. In addition, Group A patients were advised to apply topical clindamycin phosphate 1% lotion twice daily for 12 weeks. Patients were followed up on the 2nd, 4th, 8th and finally on 12th week to see clinical improvement and adverse effects. Clinical improvement was measured by reduction of acne lesions count between two groups. Results: Mean lesion count for open comedones, closed comedones, papules and pustules were identical between two groups at base line (p>0.05). Significantly better reduction of all type of acne lesions was observed during 2nd follow up onwards in group A compared to group B (p<0.05). Adverse effects were noticed significantly less in group A than in group B (p<0.05). Conclusion: Clindamycin phosphate 1% with adapalene 0.1% combination therapy was found to be safe and more effective ...