Comparison of the efficacy and safety of 0.1% adapalene gel and 0.025% tretinoin cream in the treatment of childhood acanthosis nigricans.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

There have been few published randomized controlled trials for the treatment of childhood acanthosis nigricans (AN) to date.

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the efficacy of topical 0.1% adapalene gel compared to 0.025% tretinoin cream in the treatment of childhood AN.

METHODS:

An 8-week, randomized, split-neck, comparative study between topical 0.1% adapalene gel and 0.025% tretinoin cream for the treatment of neck hyperpigmentation associated with AN was performed. M index measured by a narrowband reflectance spectrophotometer and both investigator's global evaluation (IGE) and parent's global evaluation (PGE) scales were used to evaluate efficacy.

RESULTS:

There was no statistically significant difference between 0.1% adapalene gel and 0.025% tretinoin cream in the treatment of AN-associated hyperpigmentation (P = 0.56). Mean differences in M indices between week 0 and week 8 of 0.1% adapalene and 0.025% tretinoin treatment were 24.2 ± 7.9% and 23.8 ± 8.3% improvement, respectively. Regarding treatment efficacy, 90.0% and 85.0% of participants had more than 75% improvement in IGE in 0.1% adapalene and 0.025% tretinoin treatment sides, respectively. In addition, 75.0% and 65.0% of participants had more than 75.0% improvement in PGE in 0.1% adapalene and 0.025% tretinoin treatment sides, respectively.

LIMITATIONS:

Lack of histopathological evaluations.

CONCLUSIONS:

We found no significant difference between topical 0.1% adapalene gel and 0.025% tretinoin in the treatment of AN.

• Authors: Arucha Treesirichod, Suthida Chaithirayanon, Nattakarn Wongjitrat
• Journal: Pediatric dermatology (Pediatr Dermatol) Vol. 36 Issue 3 Pg. 330-334 (May 2019) ISSN: 1525-1470 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 30883877 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
• Copyright: © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Chemical References

• Dermatologic Agents
• Gels
• Keratolytic Agents
• Adapalene
• Tretinoin

Topics

• Acanthosis Nigricans (drug therapy)
• Adapalene (therapeutic use)
• Administration, Cutaneous
• Adolescent
• Child
• Dermatologic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Gels
• Humans
• Keratolytic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Neck
• Skin Cream
• Treatment Outcome
• Tretinoin (therapeutic use)