Azithromycin versus tetracycline in the treatment of acne vulgaris.

BACKGROUND

Acne vulgaris affects a large number of young adults and often presents with facial and truncal involvement. Systemic antibiotics are used for the treatment of papulopustular and cystic lesions.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to determine the efficacy and safety of azithromycin versus tetracycline in the treatment of acne vulgaris.

METHODS

A randomized, investigator-blind, clinical trial was carried out for 3 months at the outpatient clinic of Emam Khomeini University Hospital, Ahwaz, Iran. A total of 290 patients with moderate to severe papulopustular acne vulgaris were allocated to two groups, azithromycin and tetracycline, for 3 months of treatment. Azithromycin 500 mg was prescribed for 3 consecutive days a week for 1 month and then 250 mg every other day for the following 2 months. Tetracycline 1 g was similarly prescribed: daily for 1 month and then 500 mg daily for the following 2 months.

RESULTS

Both antibiotics were effective in reducing inflammatory lesions and improving acne. Azithromycin produced a slightly higher percentage of improvement compared with tetracycline (100 cases/84.7% vs 94 cases/79.7%).

CONCLUSION

Azithromycin is a safe and effective alternative in the treatment of inflammatory acne.