What's new in Combination topical therapy to Fight Acne?Adapalene and Benzoyl Peroxide
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Combinations of topical antibiotics with benzoyl peroxide have been available for years to treat acne. The benzoyl peroxide is itself antibacterial but also acts to reduce resistance of Propionibacterium acnes. The commonly available combination products include Benzamycin (benzoyl peroxide and erythromycin) and Benzaclin (benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin).
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Adapalene is a topical retinoid, is in the family of products related to Retin-A (tretinoin). The exact mechanism of how the retinoids work to improve acne is unknown; however retinoids reduce the ability of the pores to form a plug and thus decrease the blackheads and whiteheads of acne. Inflammatory skin lesions, or pimples, form when bacteria (P.acnes) proliferate in the oil trapped in the plugged pores.
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| In the study cited below, the authors compared a fixed-dose combination gel of adapalene and benzoyl peroxide (BPO) to either adapalene or benzoyl peroxide alone. The authors concluded that the "fixed-dose combination gel of adapalene and BPO to be significantly more effective and to have a faster onset of action than monotherapy". They also stated that "Importantly, the tolerability profile of adapalene-BPO was comparable to adapalene monotherapy".
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This combination of adapalene and benzoyl peroxide would be a prescription product that should only be used under the supervision of your health care provider. Both adapalene and benzoyl peroxide may cause irritation of the skin. Benzoyl peroxide products may induce an allergic reaction, and can cause bleaching of clothing or towels. Please do not use any topical medication if you are pregnant, nursing, might become pregnant or uncertain if you are pregnant.
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Adapalene-benzoyl peroxide, a fixed-dose combination for the treatment of acne vulgaris: Results of a multicenter, randomized double-blind, controlled studyJournal of the American Academy of DermatologyDiane M. Thiboutot, Jonathan Weiss et al Nov 2007
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Update on Combination Treatment Skin Care Products for Acne:
Cutis: Changing the Face of Acne Therapy
February 2009
Discusses the increasing availability of fixed topical skin care combination products for acne treatment, including fixed combinations of antibiotics with benzoyl peroxide (erythromycin or clindamycin with benzoyl peroxide), clindamycin with tretinoin ( a retinoid) and adapalene with benzoyl peroxide.
All of these combination acne treatment products aim to fight acne from a multi-prong approach while minimizing the inconvenience of using several different acne products daily.
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