ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Twenty percent azelaic acid gel is recommended as a topical treatment for acne due to its favorable profile. AIM: Our objective in this study was to evaluate the efficacy of 20% azelaic acid gel in the treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris. METHODS: This was a double blind, randomized clinical trial. Sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris were selected randomly to receive either azelaic acid gel or the vehicle gel alone. Patients were followed up every 15 days for a period of 45 days. The number of lesions and the acne severity index (ASI) were recorded and compared using Student's t-test. RESULTS: Total lesion count was reduced by 60.6% and 19.9% by azelaic acid gel and the placebo respectively (P = 0.002). ASI was reduced by 65.2% and 21.3% by azelaic acid gel and the placebo respectively (P = 0.001), i.e, azelaic acid gel was 3.06 times more effective than the placebo in reducing ASI. CONCLUSION: Azelaic acid gel can be used as an effective treatment in mild to moderate acne vulgaris.
Subject(s)
Acne Vulgaris/drug therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Dermatologic Agents/administration & dosage , Dicarboxylic Acids/administration & dosage , Double-Blind Method , Female , Gels , Humans , Male , Prospective Studies , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Los antimicrobianos y principalmente los antibióticos tópicos son un arma terapéutica eficaz y segura en el tratamiento del acné. Antiobióticos tópicos tales como Eritromicina, Clidamicina o Tetraciclina son eficaces en el acné inflamatorio leve a moderado. Su mecanismo de acción es por inhibición de la inflamación más que por un efecto bactericida. Su uso combinado con Peróxido de Benzoílo, Tretinoina o Zinc aumentan su eficacia. Los efectos adversos son leves siendo el de mayor relevancia el desarrollo de cepas resistentes de Propionibacterium Acnes. Nuevos antibióticos tópicos están en investigación siendo una promesa al futuro del tratamiento tópico del acné