title: Randomized, controlled, bilateral (split-face) comparison trial of the tolerability and patient preference of adapalene gel 0.1% and tretinoin microsphere gel 0.1% for the treatment of acne vulgaris.
abstract: Poor patient compliance is one of the main reasons for treatment failure in acne. Our objective was to evaluate the tolerability and patient preference of adapalene gel 0.1% compared with tretinoin microsphere gel 0.1% using a randomized, controlled, investigator-masked, bilateral (split-face), 4-week comparative study of the 2 products when applied once daily in 40 patients. We found that adapalene produced less stinging/burning than tretinoin at weeks 1 and 4 and, overall, more patients felt more skin irritation on the side of the face treated with tretinoin than on the side treated with adapalene (P<.05). At week 4, a significantly greater number of patients preferred adapalene gel 0.1% to tretinoin microsphere gel 0.1% (72.5% vs 27.5%, respectively, P<.01).
authors.affiliation: International Research Services, Inc, Rockland, Maine, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Egan
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Loesche
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000068816:Adapalene; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D009281:Naphthalenes; D000068816:Adapalene; D014212:Tretinoin