Comparative evaluation of Dapsone 5% gel vs Clindamycin 1% gel in mild to moderate acne vulgaris

The Gulf Journal of Dermatology and Venereology INTRODUCTION The term acne is derived from Greek word “acme” meaning “prime of life”. Though considered as a benign disorder, it can have profound psychological impact on the patients, especially with those having disfiguring scars, which can persist for life.1 It is a chronic inflammatory disorder of pilosebaceous unit resulting from increased sebum production, altered keratinization, inflammation and bacterial colonization of hair follicles by P. acnes.2 It is the most common condition bringing patients to dermatology clinic. It is a pleomorphic disorder, and most commonly presents between 12-25 years of age, but can manifest at any age. Even if mild manifestations are not included, frequency of moderate to severe acne is still 20-35%. Clinical features include seborrhea, non-inflammatory lesions like open & closed comedones, and inflammatory lesions like papules, pustules and scarring in severe cases. As the pathogenesis of acne is becoming clear in recent years, newer treatment modalities are coming up.3 There are a number of treatment modalities ORIGINAL ARTICLE