ADAPALENE 0.1-PERCENT GEL FOR THE TREATMENT OF ACNE-VULGARIS - ITS SUPERIORITY COMPARED TO TRETINOIN 0.025-PERCENT CREAM IN SKIN TOLERANCE AND PATIENT PREFERENCE

One hundred patients with acne vulgaris applied adapalene (Differin(R) ) 0.1% gel to one side of their face and tretinoin 0.025% cream to the other once a day for 4 weeks; the side of application was determined by randomization code. Patient tolerance (assessed as the side of the face least irritated by drug application) was recorded weekly and pati ent preference (assessed as the preparation more easily spread, absorb ed more quickly, smelled better, felt best on the skin and least greas y to the feel) at completion of the study. The investigator measured s kin irritation weekly, scoring erythema, skin dryness, desquamation an d burning/stinging on a 10-point scale. After each week of treatment, 64-68% of patients found adapalene 0.1% gel more tolerable than tretin oin 0.025% cream (P < 0.05). At study completion, 65% of patients pref erred adapalene 0.1% gel over tretinoin 0.025% cream (P = 0.003). An o verall assessment showed adapalene 0.1% gel was significantly less irr itating to the skin in terms of producing erythema, dryness, desquamat ion and burning/stinging, at Visits 2, 3 and 4 (P < 0.02). Thirty-two patients experienced mild to moderately severe adverse events; three h ad adverse events considered to be drug related (two with skin discomf ort; one with skin dryness). One patient stopped using the study drugs because of dry skin. This study showed that a majority of patients pr eferred adapalene 0.1% gel over tretinoin 0.025% cream and that it cau sed significantly less skin irritation.