Successful treatment of acne vulgaris using a new method: results of a randomized vehicle-controlled trial of short-contact therapy with 0.1% tazarotene gel.

Abstract

CONTEXT:

Short-contact application of 0.1% tazarotene gel for acne was devised to minimize local adverse effects. Its efficacy and safety are unknown.

OBJECTIVES:

To assess acne improvement and tolerability during 12 weeks of short-contact treatment with 0.1% tazarotene gel vs a nonmedicated gel control.

DESIGN:

A randomized, masked, vehicle-controlled trial.

SETTING:

Outpatient facilities at an urban medical school and an affiliated suburban office practice.

PARTICIPANTS:

Ninety-nine volunteers with facial acne were enrolled; 81 completed the study.

INTERVENTION:

Thirty-three patients were randomly assigned to each of 3 groups: T + T applied 0.1% tazarotene gel twice daily, T + V applied 0.1% tazarotene gel once daily and vehicle gel once daily, and V + V applied vehicle gel twice daily. Patients adjusted the contact period as tolerated, between 30 seconds and 5 minutes per application.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Acne efficacy by reduction in acne lesions, treatment success (50%-100% improvement in global response to treatment) and improvement in overall disease severity. Local adverse effects, scored from none to severe.

RESULTS:

By week 12, T + T and T + V achieved significantly greater improvement in acne than V + V based on mean percentage reduction in noninflammatory lesions (46% and 41% vs 2%; P =.002) and inflammatory lesions (38% and 34% vs 9%; P =.01), percentage of treatment successes (64% and 61% vs 15%; P<.001), and reduction in overall disease severity (30% and 29% vs 3%; P<.001). Local adverse effects did not differ significantly among the 3 groups after week 4.

CONCLUSION:

Short-contact 0.1% tazarotene gel therapy is a safe and effective new method of acne treatment.

• Authors: Susan Bershad, Giselle Kranjac Singer, Janice E Parente, Mei-Heng Tan, Daniel W Sherer, Andrea N Persaud, Mark Lebwohl
• Journal: Archives of dermatology (Arch Dermatol) Vol. 138 Issue 4 Pg. 481-9 (Apr 2002) ISSN: 0003-987X [Print] United States
• PMID: 11939810 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Gels
• Nicotinic Acids
• Retinoids
• tazarotene

Topics

• Acne Vulgaris (drug therapy)
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Child
• Female
• Gels
• Humans
• Male
• Nicotinic Acids (administration & dosage)
• Remission Induction
• Retinoids (administration & dosage)
• Time Factors