A Comparative Study Between The Efficacy Of Retinoic Acid 5% Peel Versus Salicylic Acid 30% Peel In The Treatment Of Inflammatory Acne Vulgaris

Background: Acne, a prevalent and distressing skin disorder, affects a significant proportion of the global population, with a prevalence of 85%–90% among adolescents and a potential persistence into adulthood. Aim: This study aimed to provide evidence-based insights for optimized therapeutic approaches. Methods: This is a randomized controlled clinical trial.It was carried out in the Dermatology outpatient clinic of Benha University during the period from June 2022 to June 2023 on thirty patients with different degrees of inflammatory acne. All patients had six peeling sessions biweekly with retinoic acid 5 % peel on one side of the face and salicylic acid 30% peel on the other side. Results: The median scores for acne after treatment with retinoic acid 5% and salicylic acid 30% were consistently lower in each session. The study found no significant differences between treatment regimens at sessions 1, 2, and 3, but retinoic acid showed slightly better results. In sessions 4, 5, and 6, retinoic acid treatment showed better improvement, with a 5% peeling side showing better acne score improvement. Patient satisfaction was significantly different between the two treatments, and there was a significant relationship between acne score before treatment and improvement at the end of treatment. Conclusions: Retinoidsic acid 5% peel shows superior efficacy in treating inflammatory acne vulgaris, reducing acne scores and increasing patient satisfaction, making it a preferred therapeutic approach for dermatologists and skincare practitioners.