title: Roles of adapalene in the treatment of pityriasis versicolor.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ketoconazole is a typical treatment available for pityriasis versicolor; tretinoin cream is effective, too. Adapalene gel is a tretinoin derivative and has a lower incidence of irritation compared with other topical retinoid products. However, there are no reports on adapalene gel for the treatment of pityriasis versicolor.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of adapalene gel comparing the treatment with adapalene gel and 2% ketoconazole cream in pityriasis versicolor.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty patients suffering from pityriasis versicolor were randomly divided into two groups; one group were treated with 2% ketoconazole cream topically twice daily for 2 weeks, adapalene gel was used for the other group in a similar fashion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in efficacy between the two groups. No major side effects were noted in any of the groups either.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adapalene was the favorable option in the treatment of pityriasis versicolor. The probable therapeutic mechanism of adapalene is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, People's Republic of China. stw6666@163.com
authors.forename: Tian-Wei
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Xiao-Kun
authors.initials: XK
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Hong-Xing
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Yong-Bo
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000068816:Adapalene; D000328:Adult; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007654:Ketoconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014010:Tinea Versicolor / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D005782:Gels; D009281:Naphthalenes; D000068816:Adapalene; D007654:Ketoconazole