Efficacy and Tolerability of Topical Dapsone vs Benzoyl Peroxide in Mild to Moderate Acne Vulgaris Treatment: A Retrospective Study

Aim: Acne vulgaris is a disease of the pilosebaceous unit and a chronic inflammatory process. This study aimed to compare topical 5% dapsone and 10% benzoyl peroxide in terms of efficacy, side effects, and patient satisfaction in mild to moderate acne. Material and Methods: The patients who applied to the dermatology outpatient clinic with the complaint of acne between June 20, 2022, and September 20, 2022, and were diagnosed with mild and moderate acne vulgaris, were retrospectively evaluated. Forty-eight patients in the dapsone group and 53 in the benzoyl peroxide group were included in this study. Results: At the end of the treatment, a statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of ISGA values and improvement percentage in ISGA, improvement was higher in the dapsone group (both p=0.001). A statistically significant difference was found between the groups in terms of the percentage decrease in lesion counts of closed comedones, papules and pustules, inflammatory and total lesions (decreasement was higher in the dapsone group, p=0.038 for closed comedones, p=0.006 for total lesions and p<0.001 for others). There was no dissatisfied patient in the group using dapsone (p<0.001). Among the side effects, erythema was more common during the whole treatment, and dryness and burning-stinging sensation were higher at the end of the first month in the benzoyl peroxide group. Conclusion: Topical 5% dapsone is effective in the treatment of mild to moderate acne and is safe in terms of side effects compared to topical 10% benzoyl peroxide.