Topical Vitamin A Acid (Airol®) and Systemic Oxytetracycline in the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris

Abstract

A double-blind, controlled multi-centre trial with 238 patients was employed to study the relative merits of three treatment schedules in acne vulgaris. Schedule A consisted of oral oxytetracycline and topical vitamin A acid cream (0.05%), schedule B of oral oxytetracycline alone, and schedule C of vitamin A acid alone. Large and statistically significant reductions occurred in the number of come dones, papules and pustules during 8 weeks of therapy, which could be attributed neitherto placebo effects nor to natural history of the disease.