Efficacy and tolerability of a topical erythromycin/tretinoin combination preparation in acne treatment: post-marketing surveillance study involving over 6500 patients.

The good efficacy and tolerability of an alcoholic erythromycin/tretinoin solution was confirmed in a multicentre data investigation of over 6500 patients. The mean score for comedones declined clearly from 1.9 to 0.9 during treatment (average duration 70 days). The score for papules and pustules was reduced from 1.6 to 0.5. Overall medical assessment indicated 'very good' to 'good' efficacy in 86.1% of documented cases. Adverse drug reactions during treatment were mostly only very mild and were nearly always the known symptoms of redness, scaling, dryness and itching. Overall assessment of tolerability was 'very good' or 'good' in 88.1% of cases.