Treatment of Acne Vulgaris Using Topical and Oral Ciprofloxacin in Comparison with Topical Clindamycin and Oral Doxycycline

There are many topical therapies that have been used in the treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris, while in moderate to severe acne systemic therapies are recommended in addition to the topical remedies. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of oral plus topical ciprofloxacin solution 1.5 % in the treatment of moderate acne vulgaris in comparison with topical clindamycin solution 1.5 % plus oral doxycycline. This single-blind comparative therapeutic clinical trial was conducted in the Department of Dermatology and Venerology-Baghdad Teaching Hospital from February 2017 to March 2018, consisted of seventy one patients with moderate acne who were divided into two groups: Group A used topical ciprofloxacin solution 1.5 % twice daily for 8 weeks plus 500mg ciprofloxacin tablet twice daily for the first two weeks, then once daily for the remaining 6 weeks (total 8 weeks), while Group B used topical clindamycin solution 1.5 % twice daily plus 100 mg doxycycline capsule in the same manner. Full clinical assessment was carried out. Scoring system was done every two weeks till the end of the therapy and four weeks after the cessation of therapy to evaluate the improvement and to report any topical and systemic side effects. Sixty two patients with moderate acne vulgaris completed the course of treatment, thirty one patients in each group, their ages ranged from 17-26 (19.3 1.9) years and for group A, group B as follow: 19.5 2.3, 19.1 1.5 years respectively, nine (12.3 %) patients did not complete the study. Both topical ciprofloxacin solution plus oral ciprofloxacin and clindamycin solution plus oral doxycycline cleared the lesions in moderate acne within 8 weeks and when the results of the two groups compared with each other there was no statistical difference. In conclusion Topical ciprofloxacin solution plus systemic ciprofloxacin are as effective as topical clindamycin solution plus systemic doxycycline in the treatment of moderate acne vulgaris.