Topical antibiotics for acne treatment

Abstract

Urgency. Acne is a prevalent polymorphous multifactorial inflammatory disease with various clinical forms ranging from the mildest ones (comedonal) to the most severe forms such as phlegmonous, indurative and cystic acne. According to epidemiology studies, the acne incidence rate in general population varies from 85% to 93%; moreover, there is a trend towards the growth in the incidence rate of postpubertal and persistent acne in adults. Acne treatment methods depend on the adequate clinical assessment of the disease severity, character of eruptions, skin type, any concomitant pathologies and patient’s age. Topical therapy is administered to all patients regardless of the disease severity and forms a mandatory part of the therapeutic complex treatment of acne patients. Despite the range of available drugs and treatment methods, researchers keep searching for new drugs and treatment methods for treating acne. Combination acne therapies enjoy keen interest in the world for reasons such as stable treatment results and improved compliance. It is essential that the administration of a combination therapy came along with drugs having a complimentary mechanism of action. Drug combinations have an effect on a large number of pathogenetic factors resulting in acne (excessive follicular hyperkeratosis, propagation of P. аспвв, inflammation). Goal. The goal of this article is a review of literature sources on current aspects of acne topical therapy and examining results of studies of a combination therapy, azelaic acid and clindamycin. Study materials and methods. The project was carried out at the GBOU VPO Kursk State Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. Major results. Both Russian and foreign authors use combination therapies with topical administration of azelaic acid and clindamycin on a broad scale. According to a study conducted in Russia, azelaic acid is a good combination substance for administration with both topical antibiotics (the antibiotic is to be applied to pustules once a day) and adapalene. According to the clinical study results, 15% azelaic acid (Azelic gel) as a part of a combination topical therapy reduces adverse effects observed in the course of a monotherapy with topical retinoids and improves the therapeutic efficacy when combined with antibacterial drugs. Conclusion. The practical experience and different variants of a combination therapy with 15% azelaic acid (Azelic gel) and 1% clindamycin gel (Clindovit) provide dermatologists with an opportunity to treat acne in different groups of patients on an everyday basis with increased efficacy achieving a longer remission of the inflammatory process.