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


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


METHODS
A randomized, masked, vehicle-controlled trial.


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


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


METHODS
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.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
Short-contact 0.1% tazarotene gel therapy is a safe and effective new method of acne treatment.
Bershad
Susan
S
Department of Dermatology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Kranjac Singer
Giselle
G
Parente
Janice E
JE
Tan
Mei-Heng
MH
Sherer
Daniel W
DW
Persaud
Andrea N
AN
Lebwohl
Mark
M
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009539:Nicotinic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012074:Remission Induction; D012176:Retinoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors
D005782:Gels; D009539:Nicotinic Acids; D012176:Retinoids; C086827:tazarotene