THE COMPARATIVE EFFICACY OF BENZOYL PEROXIDE 5-PERCENT ERYTHROMYCIN 3-PERCENT GEL AND ERYTHROMYCIN 4-PERCENT ZINC 1-CENTER-DOT-2-PERCENT SOLUTION IN THE TREATMENT OF ACNE-VULGARIS

This randomized 10-week study compared the efficacy of benzoyl peroxid e 5%/erythromycin 3% gel with erythromycin 4%/zinc 1.2% solution in 72 acne vulgaris patients. Physician global evaluations were significant ly more improved (P less than or equal to 0.05) in the benzoyl peroxid e 5%/erythromycin 3% gel treatment group compared to erythromycin 4%/z inc 1.2% solution at week 2 and at each subsequent biweekly clinical v isit. Inflammatory lesions (papules/pustules) were significantly more reduced (P less than or equal to 0.005) in the benzoyl peroxide 5%/ery thromycin 3% gel treatment group than the erythromycin 4%/zinc 1.2% so lution at weeks 4 and 10. Comedones were significantly more reduced (P less than or equal to 0.001) in the benzoyl peroxide 5%/erythromycin 3% gel treatment group than in the erythromycin 4%/zinc 1.2% solution group at weeks 8 and 10. Patient efficacy evaluations significantly (P less than or equal to 0.001) favoured benzoyl peroxide 5%/erythromyci n 3% gel to erythromycin 4%/zinc 1.2% solution.