Efficacy of Intramuscular Pantothenic Acid in the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris: A Single Blind Randomized Clinical Trial

Introduction: Acne vulgaris is a multifactorial disease caused by inflammation of pilosebaceous units. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of combined intramuscular pantothenic acid injections, as an alternative to the oral supplement, and topical adapalene for treating acne vulgaris. Method: In this single blind controlled trial conducted in 2024, we enrolled 59 patients and randomly assigned them to Groups A and B. Both groups received topical adapalene gel; in addition, Group B received intramuscular dexpanthenol injections. Acne severity was assessed using the Global Acne Grading System (GAGS) and Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA). The total lesion count (TLC) was also recorded employing the Leeds technique. Furthermore, patients’ quality of life was evaluated using the Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI) questionnaire. These assessments were accomplished at the start of the study and after 2 months of treatment. Statistical analyses were conducted using the IBM SPSS Statistics application (Version 26.0). Results: The patients comprised 47 females and 12 males of Persian ethnicity, with a mean age of 23.93 ± 7.72 years. Despite significant alleviation in acne vulgaris severity, reduction in the number of lesions, and improvement in the sufferers’ quality of life in both treatment groups, no significant differences existed between these treatment approaches. Conclusion: The concurrent use of intramuscular pantothenic acid and topical adapalene gel is not superior to the use of adapalene gel alone in alleviating acne vulgaris. Actually, no additive therapeutic benefit for intramuscular pantothenic acid injections in the treatment of mild to moderate acne was observed. Trial Registration: Iran Registry of Clinical Trials: IRCT20150825023753N19