Efficacy and Safety of Salicylic Acid (20%) Chemical Peel Solution in Treatment of Moderate

Abstract

Background and objectives: Rosacea is a chronic skin disorder characterized by persistent facial erythema, tel- engectesia, inflammatory papules and pustules, facial flushing. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of 20% salicylic acid chemical peel in comparison to combined effect of oral doxycline 100mg capsule and topical metronidazole 0.75% gel in the treatment of moderate rosacea. Methods:An open label comparative therapeutic trial which has been done at Erbil Dermatology Teaching Center outpatient clinic during the period from March of 2017 to January 2018 on forty patients with moderate rosacea. Full history and clinical examinations were done for every patient. Patients were randomly allocated to two groups: group A underwent salicylic acid chemical peeling every 3 weeks for a series of four sessions using 20% salicylic acid and group B received oral doxycline 100mg capsule and topical metronidazole 0.75% gel once daily for a series of 12 weeks. Treatment efficacy was assessed at last session according to IGA score of rosacea. Results: Forty patients; their age ranged from 23 to 68 years. Before treatment, all patients in both treatment groups were classified as having a moderate grading of rosacea. At the last visit, according to investigator’s global assessment, treatment success in terms of a clear, or mild final result was obtained in a significantly larger proportion of those patients treated with 20% salicylic acid group compared with doxycline capsule and topical metronidazole gel. Conclusions:The findings in our study indicated that 20% salicylic acid peel is more efficacious in treatment of moderate rosacea than combined doxycline 100mg capsule and metronidazole 0.75% gel. Also chemical peel is easier to use and has less cost.