Treatment of acne with 5% benzoyl peroxide gel or 0.05% retinoic acid cream.

In a parallel group comparison of a 5% benzoyl peroxide gel with a 0.05% retinoic acid cream, in moderate facial acne vulgaris, significantly more patients in the benzoyl peroxide group experienced overall excellent results than did those in the other group. Both medications, however, were effective in reducing the numbers of both inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions. The benzoyl peroxide gel appeared to produce a more rapid effect on inflammatory lesions than did retinoic acid, and produced significantly less peeling.