Comparative evaluation of topical benzoyl peroxide, metronidazole and benzoyl peroxide - clindamycin combination in treatment of acne vulgaris.

Forty patients of moderately severe acne were treated with either 5% benzoyl peroxide - 1% metronidazole (Group I- 20 patients)or 5% benzoyl - 1% clindamycin (group II 20 patients) for 8 weeks. The patients were evaluated at 2 weekly intervals by spot counting of the lesions. The mean reduction in noninflammatory lesion counts was 75.4% in group I and 76.73% in group II and the mean reduction in inflammatory lesion counts was 73.80% in group I and 76.41% in group II Both the topical combinations were found to be equally and highly effective in the treatment of moderately severe acne Side effects in the form of dryness and scaling were seen in 15% patients of each group. Our study also supports the combination of topical antimicrobial agents to prevent irritation and broaden the therapeutic spectrum by using agents with different mechanisms of action which are effective against different types of acne lesions.