Combined topical treatment of acne with erythromycin and tretinoin

Vitamin A acid is the most effective comedolytic agent in the therapy of acne vulgaris. Antibiotics are suitable for the treatment of inflammatory lesions (papulo-pustules). Even topically applied, some antibiotics show a sufficient anti-inflammatory effect. Above all, erythromycin is reliable in the topical treatment of acne. Combined therapy with both topical tretinoin and erythromycin is more effective than either alone. During the first weeks of treatment, tretinoin leads to temporary deterioration of the disease, which can mostly be avoided by the anti-inflammatory effect of erythromycin simultaneously applied.