Combination sodium sulfacetamide 10% and sulfur 5% cream with sunscreens versus metronidazole 0.75% cream for rosacea.

Abstract

Topical metronidazole and combination sodium sulfacetamide and sulfur commonly are used to treat rosacea. Recently, the relative efficacy and safety of sodium sulfacetamide 10% and sulfur 5% cream with sunscreens (Rosac Cream) (n = 75) and metronidazole 0.75% cream (Metrocream) (n = 77) were compared in an investigator-blinded, randomized, parallel-group study at 6 sites. After 12 weeks of treatment with sodium sulfacetamide 10% and sulfur 5% cream with sunscreens, there was a significantly greater percentage reduction (80%) in inflammatory lesions compared with metronidazole 0.75% cream (72%)(P = .04), as well as a significantly greater percentage of subjects with improved erythema (69% vs 45%, respectively; P = .0007). In addition, the sodium sulfacetamide 10% and sulfur 5% cream with sunscreens group had a significantly greater proportion of subjects with success in global improvement at week 12 compared with the metronidazole 0.75% cream group (79% vs 59%, respectively; P = .01). There was no significant difference between treatment groups in the percentage of subjects with improvement in investigator global severity. Overall tolerance was good or excellent in 85% of subjects in the sodium sulfacetamide 10% and sulfur 5% cream with sunscreens group and in 97% of subjects in the metronidazole 0.75% cream group. Seven subjects had poor tolerance to the sodium sulfacetamide 10% and sulfur 5% cream with sunscreens, possibly caused by a sulfa drug allergy.

• Authors: Helen M Torok, Guy Webster, Frank E Dunlap, Nancy Egan, Michael Jarratt, Daniel Stewart
• Journal: Cutis (Cutis) Vol. 75 Issue 6 Pg. 357-63 (Jun 2005) ISSN: 0011-4162 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16047874 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Ointments
• Sunscreening Agents
• Metronidazole
• Sulfacetamide
• Sulfur

Topics

• Analysis of Variance
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Humans
• Least-Squares Analysis
• Male
• Metronidazole (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Ointments
• Rosacea (drug therapy)
• Sulfacetamide (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Sulfur (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Sunscreening Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome