Evaluating topical treatments for mild to moderate acne: A cross-sectional study

Acne vulgaris (AV) is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease affecting 80% of young adults and adolescents, causing lesions, scarring, and pigmentation in the pilosebaceous unit. Managing AV effectively crucial to improving patients’ quality of life and preventing long-term dermatological complications. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of three widely used topical treatments for AV, which are: benzoyl peroxide, retinoid, and salicylic acid treatments, in managing mild to moderate acne using a cross-sectional observational study design. The study analysed the effectiveness of benzoyl peroxide, retinoid, and salicylic acid treatments for mild to moderate acne over an 8-week period. Participants aged 15 to 50 were randomly assigned to three treatment groups and outcomes were measured through physical exams and questionnaires. The variables assessed included lesion count, acne severity using GAGS scores, scarring, and skin texture and the data was analysed using SPSS, paired T-tests, and ANOVA to identify the most effective treatment. The study found that benzoyl peroxide significantly improved skin texture and eliminated severe inflammatory cases. Retinoids showed the most reduction in non-inflammatory and inflammatory lesions, with 55% of participants showing only mild lesions post-treatment. Retinoids also reduced severe acne scarring and improved skin texture. Salicylic acid produced moderate improvements, reducing non-inflammatory lesions and improving skin texture. Benzoyl peroxide and retinoids significantly improved skin texture, however, benzoyl peroxide showed mixed results in scarring. Paired sample t-tests confirmed significant improvements in skin texture and non-inflammatory lesions for both benzoyl peroxide and retinoid groups. The findings revealed that retinoids are more effective for non-inflammatory acne lesions and benzoyl peroxide for severe inflammatory cases, allowing for personalised treatment plans. This approach offers valuable insights for improving acne management outcomes. The study can help dermatologists in selecting effective treatments for acne based on lesion type and severity