A Comparative Study of Topical Azailic Acid Cream 20% and Active Lotion Containing Triethyl Citrate and Ethyl Linoleate in the Treatment of Mild to Moderate Acne Vulgaris

Background: Acne vulgaris is a common disorder affecting 79% - 95% of the adolescent population. The choice of treatment depends on the severity, patients with mild to moderate acne should receive topical therapy such as azelaic acid. Rising antibiotic drug resistance consequent to the widespread use of topical antibiotics is causing concern and effective non-antibiotic treatments are needed. Objective: To compare the efficacy and side effects of topical azelaic acid cream 20% versus active lotion containing triethyl citrate and ethyl linoleate (TCEL) in treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris. Patients and Methods: This single, blinded, comparative, therapeutic study was done in the Department of Dermatology-Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq; from May 2013-July 2014. Scoring of acne was carried out and the patients were examined every 2 weeks for 10 weeks of treatment. One month after stopping drugs, patients were evaluated for drug complications and disease recurrence. Sixty patients fulfilling enrollment criteria were included in this study. Patients were divided into 2 groups: Group A (30 patients) treated twice daily with TCEL lotion and Group B (30 patients) treated twice daily with topical azelaic acid cream 20%. Results: Both topical TCEL lotion and azelaic acid cream were statistically an effective therapy for treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris. TCEL lotion was more effective and act earlier than azelaic acid cream starting from 4 weeks of therapy till the end of treatment (after 10 weeks) and even after 4 weeks after stopping the treatment (P-value non-inflammatory acne lesions. Its use would reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance developing within the skin flora.