Adapalene was as effective as tretinoin for treating mild to moderate acne and produced less irritation, Dr. W.J. Cunliffe said in a poster session at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.
A total of 409 patients ranging in age from 12 to 25 were randomized to 10 weeks of treatment with 0.01% adapalene gel or 0.05% tretinoin cream. The number of inflammatory lesions fell by 38% in the adapalene groups and by 37% in the tretinoin group. The number of noninflammatory lesions was reduced by 51% in each group, said Dr. Cunliffe of the Skin Research Centre, Leeds (England) General Infirmary.
Irritation was the greatest in both groups during the first week. The adapalene group had less erythema at weeks 1 and 6, less dryness at weeks 1 and 3, and less desquamation at weeks 1, 3, and 6.
COPYRIGHT 2001 International Medical News Group
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group