Since acne is a multi-factorial disorder, dermatologists recommend the use of combination therapy. In analogy, an OTC combination therapy was recently developed to treat multiple pathogenic factors of acne. This system combines a 2.5% benzoyl peroxide lotion with an SA cleaner that also contains glycolic acid. A daytime broad-spectrum sunscreen containing a proprietary blend of skin soothing naturals is included in the system as per FDA recommendation (67).
This OTC combination therapy system was compared to a benzoyl peroxide only system in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study on 90 subjects with mild to moderate acne. Both systems were well tolerated, although the benzoyl peroxide-only system had slightly higher irritation. The clinical results showed that the OTC combination therapy system with both SA and benzoyl peroxide treatment products rapidly improved acne within one week and continued to further ameliorate over the course of treatment. Target pimple size, edema and erythema were significantly reduced within two days (first time point). Significant reduction of full – face total acne lesion counts was seen as early as day 4. In contrast, the benzoyl peroxide only system did not show significant reduction of full face acne lesions until week 2 and global acne severity until week 4 (68). The time course kinetics of the treatments (charts in Fig. 2) show that the main difference clinically appeared to be in the superior reduction of the closed comedones or the primary lesions by the SA + BPO OTC combination therapy system.
These results demonstrate the value of using the combination therapy approach in OTC acne treatments as in Rx.