Acne vulgaris (acne) is an extremely common dermatological disease that is found typically in adolescence and young adulthood. Acne manifests with open and closed comedones (blackheads and whiteheads), papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts on the face, neck, and trunk. Acne can be treated with a variety of agents that are selected to address the pathogenic factors assumed to be responsible for the type and degree of manifested acne lesions. Monotherapy and combination therapy regimens are both useful. Topical agents are generally used as first-line therapy and include retinoids, antibiotic preparations (eg, erythromycin and clindamycin), benzoyl peroxide (BPO), alpha and beta hydroxy acids (eg, glycolic and salicylic acid [SA] preparations), and azelaic acid. Systemic therapies are initiated in patients with moderate to severe inflammatory acne that does not respond to topical therapy.~Benzoyl peroxide has antimicrobial and anti inflammatory properties and is often considered an important component of acne treatment. Salicylic acid has comedolytic properties and is often used when other topical therapies are not tolerated. Benzoyl peroxide and SA are frequently the first products that adolescents will use for acne because both can be purchased without a prescription in several different concentrations and formulations.~One of the main success factors in acne therapy is user compliance with treatment, product cost, availability and ease of use. Poor compliance may translate into decreased efficacy (either not improving symptoms well enough or not improving symptoms fast enough), tolerability issues or adverse effects (eg, erythema, dryness, or peeling of the skin), a lack of understanding of the instructions for use, or product cost/availability. Whatever the reason, poor compliance translates to decreased efficacy and increased frustration on the part of the user.~The current study will evaluate and compare the efficacy and tolerability of 2 over the counter, topical product lines for the treatment of acne: MAXCLARITY II Foam Cleanser (2.5% benzoyl peroxide [BPO]) plus Foam Treatment (2.5% BPO) and (0.5% Salicylic Acid) Toner Foam compared with MURADClarifying Cleanser (1.5% salicylic acid [SA]) plus Exfoliating Acne Treatment Gel (1% SA) and Skin Perfecting Lotion.~This is a randomized, single center, evaluator blinded, split face efficacy and tolerability study of MaxClarity II and Murad, 2 over the-counter, topical product lines for the treatment of acne. Approximately 20 subjects, aged from 16 to 29 years, inclusive, with mild facial acne are expected to participate in the study. No more than 50% of the subjects at each site can be enrolled under the age of 20.~An expert grader (blinded evaluator) will complete counts of inflamed lesions (papules/pustules) and noninflamed lesions (open/closed comedones), the ISGA, and an assessment of tolerability of each side of the face at each study visit. Subjects will assess tolerability on each side of the face at each study visit and will complete a product acceptability and preference questionnaire at the end of the study.~The study duration will be 8 weeks (56 days) with visits at baseline (day 1), week 1, week 2, week 4 and week 8. Only the expert grader (evaluator) will be blinded to the study product assignments; subjects and study nurses/coordinators will not be blinded.
One of the main success factors in acne therapy is user compliance with treatment, product cost, availability and ease of use. Poor compliance may translate into decreased efficacy (either not improving symptoms well enough or not improving symptoms fast enough), tolerability issues or adverse effects (eg, erythema, dryness, or peeling of the skin), a lack of understanding of the instructions for use, or product cost/availability. Whatever the reason, poor compliance translates to decreased efficacy and increased frustration on the part of the user.~The current study will evaluate and compare the efficacy and tolerability of 2 over the counter, topical product lines for the treatment of acne: MAXCLARITY II Foam Cleanser (2.5% benzoyl peroxide [BPO]) plus Foam Treatment (2.5% BPO) and (0.5% Salicylic Acid) Toner Foam compared with MURAD Clarifying Cleanser (1.5% salicylic acid [SA]) plus Exfoliating Acne Treatment Gel (1% SA) and Skin Perfecting Lotion.