Is switching retinoids a sound strategy for the treatment of acne vulgaris?
Topical retinoids, such as adapalene gel and tazarotene cream, are considered first-line therapy for the treatment of acne vulgaris. Dermatologists often initiate adapalene gel treatment first, due to its good tolerability, followed by a switch to tazarotene cream in an effort to improve or hasten efficacy outcomes. The goal of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of 2 daily regimens for the treatment of acne: adapalene 0.1% gel for 12 weeks and adapalene 0.1% gel for 6 weeks followed by tazarotene 0.1% cream for 6 weeks. The primary efficacy outcome was the percent of reduction in total lesion counts posttreatment. Subjects ages 12 to 35 years with acne vulgaris were selected to participate in a 12-week, randomized, evaluator-blind study of once-daily therapy with adapalene 0.1% gel (n=101) or “switch therapy,” adapalene 0.1% gel followed by tazarotene 0.1% cream (n=100). Adapalene-treated subjects achieved similar percent reductions in total lesion counts at week 12 comp
