title: 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.affiliation: Trillium Creek Dermatology Center, 5783 Wooster Pike, Medina, OH 44256, USA. helenmtorok@aol.com
authors.forename: Helen M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Torok
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.forename: Frank E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Dunlap
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Egan
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jarratt
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009824:Ointments; D012393:Rosacea / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013409:Sulfacetamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013455:Sulfur / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009824:Ointments; D013473:Sunscreening Agents; D008795:Metronidazole; D013409:Sulfacetamide; D013455:Sulfur