A comparison of clindamycin phosphate 1 percent topical lotion and placebo in the treatment of acne vulgaris.

The efficacy and skin tolerance of 1 percent clindamycin phosphate lotion were compared with those of the placebo for the lotion in a randomized, double-blind, 12-week study in forty-six patients with moderate to severe acne vulgaris. Patients using the 1 percent clindamycin lotion experienced reductions in numbers of pustules, papules, open comedones, and nodulocystic lesions. Papule counts were also reduced in placebo-treated patients. The group using clindamycin lotion had significantly greater reductions in pustule counts at week 12 and papule counts at week 3 than the placebo-treated group. Nearly 90 percent of the evaluable patients at week 12 experienced improvement or marked improvement in their acne according to the physician's evaluation, regardless of treatment group. Both regimens were well tolerated. Although diarrhea was reported by eight patients (three taking clindamycin, five receiving placebo), no patients discontinued the protocol because of diarrhea. This study demonstrated the efficacy of 1 percent clindamycin topical lotion in the treatment of moderate to severe acne vulgaris.