ADAPALENE - A REVIEW OF ITS PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES AND CLINICAL POTENTIAL IN THE MANAGEMENT OF MILD-TO-MODERATE ACNE

Adapalene, a naphthoic acid derivative with retinoid-like activity, is used for the topical treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris. It binds to retinoic acid receptors found predominantly in the terminal d ifferentiation zone of epidermis and is more active than tretinoin in modulating cellular differentiation Adapalene exhibits anti-inflammato ry activity in various in vitro and in vivo models. To date, adapalene 0.1% gel and lotion formulations have been compared only with tretino in 0.025% gel. In these comparisons, adapalene 0.1% aqueous gel was at least as effective as tretinoin and in some studies was significantly better at reducing the numbers of noninflammatory, inflammatory and t otal facial lesions in patients with mild to moderate acne. In such co mparisons, the cutaneous tolerability of adapalene aqueous gel was gen erally better than that of tretinoin. On the basis of published data, adapalene aqueous 0.1% gel is an effective and generally better tolera ted alternative to tretinoin 0.025% gel for the topical treatment of p atients with mild to moderate acne.