Tazarotene cream versus adapalene cream in the treatment of facial acne vulgaris: a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group study

A multicenter, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group trial compared tazarotene 0.1% cream with adapalene 0.1% cream, once daily for 12 weeks, in 173 patients with facial acne vulgaris. Tazarotene was associated with a significantly greater incidence of patients achieving 50% or greater global improvement (77% vs. 55%, P < or = .01), and a significantly greater reduction in comedo count (median of 68% vs. 36%, P < or =.001, compared with adapalene. A significant between-group difference in baseline inflammatory lesion count precluded a comparison of efficacy against inflammatory acne. The most common adverse events were dryness, peeling/flaking, itching, redness/erythema, burning, and facial irritation with comparable incidences of each between groups. Mean peeling and burning levels were milder with adapalene, though were trace or less in both groups throughout. There were no significant between-group differences in the incidence of patients discontinuing due to lack of efficacy or adverse events. Tazarotene cream offers significantly greater efficacy and comparable tolerability to adapalene cream.