Topical anhydrous aluminum chloride formulation in the treatment of acne vulgaris: a double-blind study.

A randomized double-blind bilateral study of twenty-five patients with acne vulgaris showed that eight weeks' treatment with 6.25 percent aluminum chloride in anhydrous alcohol gave better results than alcohol alone (p = 0.1). Improvements were recorded with both 6.25 percent aluminum chloride in anhydrous alcohol and with placebo, but 6.25 percent aluminum chloride in anhydrous alcohol proved better after four weeks' treatment. The effect on acne of 6.25 percent aluminum chloride in anhydrous alcohol is probably due to the disinfectant and antiperspirant action of aluminum chloride whereas the effect of placebo can be assigned to the sebostatic action of alcohol. The result of this study confirms previous results of open uncontrolled studies.