Objectives: To compare the clinical efficacy of topical 0.025% and 0.05% tretinoin with topical 0.05% and 0.1% tazarotene in acne vulgaris. Materials and Methods: It is a randomized prospective trial conducted in a single-center study in a tertiary-level hospital for a duration of 8 weeks. Patients having acne vulgaris (Grade 1 and 2) aged 18 to 50 years were included in the study. Those who were pregnant and lactating, had any systemic illness, or had signs and symptoms of hyperandrogenism were excluded from the study. 108 patients having mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris were selected and divided equally into 4 groups. Daily application of different concentrations of topical tretinoin and topical tazarotene once at bedtime was advised. Patients were followed at 2 weekly intervals up to 8 weeks, and response was graded as per the Indian Acne Alliance system. Any adverse events were also noted. Results: The mean improvement in total lesion scores was highest for 0.1% tazarotene at 95.4%. This was followed by 0.05% tazarotene at 91.7%, tretinoin 0.05% at 89.4%, and 0.025% tretinoin at 71.5% at 8 weeks. Conclusion: The tazarotene group was associated with a significantly greater treatment success than the tretinoin group. All the agents were well tolerated, and most of the adverse effects were local and transient. Erythema, burning, and peeling were seen more commonly with higher concentrations.
Sharma et al. (Tue,) studied this question.