By Alisdair Stirling
Using a triple combination therapy for patients with moderate to severe acne vulgaris shows significantly improved outcomes, a study suggests.
A total of 378 patients were randomly assigned to receive 300mg lymecycline orally once daily given in combination with either topical adapalene 0.1% and benzoyl peroxide 2.5% or a vehicle gel, for 12 weeks.
Both groups showed a significant reduction in inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions at week 12, although patients taking the combination therapy displayed a faster onset of action from week two for non-inflammatory lesions and week four for inflammatory lesions.
Patients in the combination group showed a significantly greater reduction in total lesion count at 12 weeks - 74.1% - than those in the vehicle group - 56.8%.
The success rate - determined by clear or almost clear skin - was significantly higher in the combination group, at 47.6% than vehicle group, at 33.7%.
Lead researcher Professor Brigitte Dréno, head of the department of dermatology at the university hospital Nantes concluded: 'These results demonstrated the clinical benefit of combining adapalene and benzoyl peroxide with lymecycline in the treatment of acne vulgaris.'
Br J Dermatol 2011 published online 29 April
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Pulse seminar: Dermatology Update 2012
