title: Efficacy and safety of azelaic acid and glycolic acid combination therapy compared with tretinoin therapy for acne.
abstract: We conducted a 12-week, multicenter, randomized, double-masked, parallel-group study of the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of azelaic acid 20% cream and glycolic acid lotion compared with tretinoin 0.025% cream and a vehicle lotion to treat mild-to-moderate facial acne vulgaris. Patients treated with azelaic/glycolic acid experienced a significantly greater reduction in the number of papules, as well as a greater reduction in the number of inflammatory lesions, than those treated with tretinoin. Overall global improvement was approximately 25% in both groups. In the physician evaluations, treatment with azelaic/glycolic acid was found to cause significantly less dryness, scaling, and erythema than tretinoin. Patients also reported significantly less dryness, redness, and peeling with azelaic/glycolic acid. Significantly more patients in the azelaic/glycolic acid group than the tretinoin group reported that they felt attractive. The combination of azelaic acid and glycolic acid is a useful alternative to tretinoin, being at least as efficacious as the latter, while offering a superior tolerability and patient approval profile.
authors.affiliation: University of California at San Diego and VA Medical Center, USA.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Spellman
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Pincus
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003998:Dicarboxylic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006016:Glycolates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009824:Ointments; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D003998:Dicarboxylic Acids; D006016:Glycolates; D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D009824:Ointments; C031149:glycolic acid; D014212:Tretinoin; C010038:azelaic acid