Acne in India: Guidelines for management IAA Consensus TTopicalopical aantibacterialsntibacterials Document Topical antibiotics: Current options include quinolone that inhibits DNA gyrase, and has strong clindamycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin, and antibacterial activity against Gram-negative and Gram- nadifloxacin. Tetracycline and erythromycin are no positive bacteria.[4] In a double-blind study comparing longer easily available. Topically applied antibiotics nadifloxacin 1% cream with erythromycin 2% cream work slowly and are marginally effective.[1] They in acne vulgaris, the two formulations were found are rarely adequate as a monotherapy but are useful to be equally effective at 12 weeks (66.7% versus adjuncts to all forms of systemic and topical therapy. 64.7%, respectively); however it was noted that while Their antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and, possibly the erythromycin cream was only effective against P. comedolytic effects[2] are optimized through careful acnes, nadifloxacin cream lowered counts of coagulase determination of concentrations, and their suitability negative staphylococci as well as P. acnes.[5] Further, is enhanced by making them available in different antibiotic resistance to nadifloxacin was extremely forms, for example, creams, gels, solutions, pledgets, low compared to erythromycin.[5] Several formulations and sachets to cater to diverse skin types and changing of nadifloxacin are available in our country, including dynamics of the skin brought about by changes in a gel. Lessons from P. acnes resistance to erythromycin weather conditions, physical activities, and effects of should alert us to the possibility of the same happening concomitant therapies. Gels are preferable as they offer with clarithromycin and azithromycin? the best combination of being nonoily, invisible, and having good percutaneous absorption. In our country, TTOPICALOPICAL AANTIBIOTICSNTIBIOTICS topical antibiotics are generic and the selection is overwhelming. The bioequivalence of various products • Clindamycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin, and has not been addressed and it is left to the prescribing nadifloxacin. dermatologist to make that judgement. Further, topical • Work slowly; marginally effective. products are more vulnerable to ‘shelf-conditions’ • Rarely adequate as monotherapy. and this too impacts efficacy. There is much more • Indiscriminate use results in antibiotic to prescribing topical antibiotics. They should be resistance. applied to the entire area, in a quantity that readily absorbs, ideally twice daily. They may be used in Benzoyl peroxide: Benzoyl peroxide (BPO) is a safe conjunction with other topical products (sunscreens, and effective, time tested, agent in the treatment of moisturizers, retinoids, antifungals) but only after acne.[1] In India, it is readily available as 2.5%, 5%, ascertaining compatibility. Topical antibiotics should and 10% gel, as a wash, and as a bar soap. BPO gel be discontinued if no therapeutic benefit is observed is more stable and allows better release of the active in 6–8 weeks.[1] Resistance to topical antibiotics is ingredient.[1] Internationally, other concentrations frequent and extends to cross-resistance between (1–10%), and other formulations (cream, lotion, commonly used antibiotics, especially tetracycline, cleanser, soap) are available.[1] It is an excellent choice erythromycin, and clindamycin.[1] Indiscriminate use in the treatment of mild and moderate acne.[1] Its of topical antibiotics is a major cause of bacterial principal mode of action is antibacterial (possibly resistance and should be curbed.[3] Other than bactericidal?) and to a lesser extent as comedolytic.[1] occasional erythema, peeling, burning, itching, and BPO is more effective than topical erythromycin and dryness, topical antibiotics are well tolerated and clindamycin.[6] Combination of BPO and erythromycin safe.[1] There are rare reports of pseudomembranous or BPO and clindamycin is more effective than BPO colitis from topical clindamycin.[1] We are fortunate in alone and is less irritating.[7,8] Topical BPO and BPO/ India to have available newer topical antibiotics such erythromycin combination are deemed to be similar as clarithromycin, azithromycin, and nadifloxacin. in efficacy to oral oxytetracycline and minocycline.[9] While clarithromycin and azithromycin, being BPO has the advantage that bacterial resistance does macrolides, have quietly replaced erythromycin not develop.[1] It can be used as monotherapy though it without much documentation, nadifloxacin is a is more effective in combination (vide supra). It needs brand new entrant and has been clinically evaluated to be applied to the entire surface. It is better to initiate in inflammatory acne.[4] Nadifloxacin is a fluorinated therapy at lower concentrations (2.5%) because there Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol | January-February 2009 | Vol 75 | Supplement 1 S31 Acne in India: Guidelines for management is a potential for irritation. Whenever irritation is noninflammatory lesions. The difference was apparent encountered it can be overcome by gradual induction as early as two weeks. There were no systemic effects, of the therapy.[5] Though used once daily generally, and acne patients with G-6PD deficiency tolerated the BPO may be applied twice daily.[1] BPO tends to bleach dapsone gel. The studies concluded that dapsone 5% hair, clothing, and bed-linen, [10] and perilesional skin gel was effective, safe, and well-tolerated treatment with spot treatment. for acne with rapid onset of action.[12] Our limited experience with dapsone gel, for the short period it was TTOPICALOPICAL BBENZOYLENZOYL PPEROXIDEEROXIDE available in the Indian market, was not as favorable. • Available as 2.5% and 5% gel, wash, bar soap. Azelaic acid: It is a naturally occurring dicarboxylic • Antibacterial action. acid produced by the yeast fungus Pityrosporum ovale. • Safe, effective, time-tested, economical antiacne It has antibacterial and anticomedonal properties agent. and is felt by some to be equal in efficacy to BPO • Can be used as monotherapy. or tretinoin.[13,14] The efficacy of azelaic acid may be • Used concomitantly, helps prevent resistance to increased by using it in combination with other topical antibiotics. medications such as retinoids, antibiotics, or BPO. Another beneficial effect of this agent is to decrease Topical metronidazole: In gel formulation, it is the hyperpigmentation caused by acne. Azelaic acid is first-line treatment for rosacea and is also useful in available as 10% and 20% cream and is to be applied overlap cases – acne/rosacea, and acne treated with twice daily. It frequently causes transient burning and topical steroids (steroid rosacea) [Figures 57-58]. Its tingling sensation, and occasionally mild erythema mode of action is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. and pruritus. In straightforward acne patients, it was found to be no more effective than placebo.[11] RREFERENCESEFERENCES Dapsone: Dapsone has previously been used as an 1. Gollnick H, Cunliffe W, Berson D, Dreno B, Finlay A, Leyden JJ, et al. Management of acne: A report from a global oral adjunctive therapy for severe inflammatory acne. alliance to improve outcomes in acne. J Am Acad Dermatol It has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. 2003;49:S1-38. rd Recently it has been possible to formulate it as 5% 2. Plewig G, Kligman AM. Acne and rosacea. 3 ed. New York: Springer-Verlag; 2000. aqueous gel and it has been clinically evaluated in the 3. Ross JI, Snelling AM, Carnegie E, Coates P, Cunliffe WJ, Bettoli USA.[12] In two large randomized studies involving 3010 V, et al. Antibiotic resistant acne: Lessons from Europe. Br J subjects, dapsone gel was compared with the vehicle Dermatol 2003;148:467-78. 4. Kuwahara K, Kitazawa T, Kitagaki H, Tsukamoto T, Kikuchi gel over 12 weeks. Dapsone-treated patients achieved M. Nadifloxacin: An antiacne quinolone antimicrobial, superior results in reducing both inflammatory and inhibits the production of proinflammatory cytokines by ab ab Figure 57: (a and b) Steroid-treated acne showing a mixed picture Figure 58: (a and b) Steroid-modified acne before and after of rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis, and acne. Note striae – also treatment steroid induced S32 Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol | January-February 2009 | Vol 75 | Supplement 1 Acne in India: Guidelines for management human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and normal C, et al. Comparison of five antimicrobial regimens for human keratinocytes. J Dermatol Sci 2005;38:47-55. treatment of mild to moderate inflammatory acne vulgaris 5. Plewig G, Holland KT, Nenoff P. Clinical and bacteriological in the community: Randomized controlled trial. Lancet evaluation of nadifloxacin 1% cream in patients with acne 2004;364:2188-95. vulgaris, phase III comparison study versus erythromycin 2% 10. Bojar RA, Cunliffe WJ, Holland KT. The short-term treatment cream. Eur J Dermatol 2006;16:48-55. of acne vulgaris with benzoyl peroxide: Effects on the 6. Eady EA, Cove JH, Joanes DN, Cunliffe WJ. Topical antibiotics surface and follicular cutaneous microflora. Br J Dermatol for the treatment of acne vulgaris: A critical evaluation of the 1995;132:204-8. literature on their clinical benefit and comparative efficacy. J 11. Tong D, Peters W, Barnetson RS. Evaluation of 0.75% Dermatol Treat 1990;1:215. metronidazole in acne: A double blind study. Clin Exp 7. Lookingbill DP, Chalker DK, Lindholm JS, Katz HI, Kempers Dermatol 1994;19:221-3. SE, Huerter CJ, et al. Treatment