Topical retinoyl beta-glucuronide is an effective treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris in Asian-Indian patients

Topical retinoyl beta-glucuronide (RBG) is beneficial in the treatment of m ild to moderate acne (acne vulgaris) in patients largely of North-European origin in the US. Because the skin types of people in India are different f rom those in the US, we investigated the effectiveness and toxicity of topi cal RBG in acne patients in India. Each day, 27 acne patients were treated topically with the vehicle, and 39 acne patients were treated topically wit h 0.16% RBG cream for 18 weeks in a double-blind study. A significant reduc tion (p < 0.001) in total lesions, inflammatory lesions and noninflammatory lesions in patients treated with RBG as compared with the vehicle only (86 .8, 80.2 and 94.6% vs. 40.1, 34.3 and 50%, respectively) was observed. No s ide effects were associated with topical RBG treatment. Thus, topical 0.16% RBG is a rapid, effective and nontoxic treatment for mild to moderate acne in Asian-Indian patients.