Efficacy and Safety of Topical Spironolactone Versus Topical Clindamycin in the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris: A Split-Face Study
Topical Spironolactone Versus Topical Clindamycin in the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54393/pjhs.v7i6.4125Keywords:
Acne Vulgaris, Topical Spironolactone, Topical Clindamycin, Global Acne Assessment ScoreAbstract
This study compares the effectiveness and safety of topical Spironolactone 5% versus topical Clindamycin 2% in treating acne vulgaris in the same patient. Objective: To assess the effectiveness and safety of topical spironolactone 5% versus topical clindamycin 2% in the treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris in the same patient through a controlled evaluation. Methods: A double-blind, split-face comparative study was conducted at the Department of Dermatology, Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital (September 2023-August 2024). Participants used 5% Spironolactone on one side of the face and 2% Clindamycin on the other for 12 weeks. Both patients and the assessing dermatologist remained blind. Improvement was measured by Total Lesion Count, Acne Severity Index, and Global Acne Assessment Score (GAAS), with a GAAS score of 0 or 1 indicating treatment success. Results: Both therapies effectively reduced papules, pustules, and comedones in 42 participants over 12 weeks, achieving Total Lesion Count Reductions of approximately 77.5 % for topical Spironolactone and 79.2% for topical Clindamycin (p=0.877). Clindamycin demonstrated faster initial improvement in total lesion count at week 6 (p=0.043) and week 8 (p=0.012), but Spironolactone showed comparable improvement by Week 12; however, the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.057). Clindamycin reduced pustules more efficiently at Week 12 (p=0.007). Conclusions: Both topical spironolactone and clindamycin were effective in treating mild to moderate acne vulgaris. Clindamycin showed a quicker initial improvement, but both treatments had similar results after 12 weeks.
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