A randomized, single-blind, active controlled study to compare the efficacy of salicylic acid and mandelic acid chemical peel in the treatment of mild to moderately severe acne vulgaris

Abstract

Background: Various modalities of treatment have been used in the treatment of acne and nowadays, clinicians seek to employ new technologies in acne care like chemical peeling. Objectives: The objective of this study is to compare the efficacy of salicylic acid and mandelic acid peel in the treatment of mild to moderately severe acne vulgaris. Methodology: A total of fifty patients with mild to moderately severe acne graded based on Global Acne Grading System were divided randomly into two groups of 25 patients each. Group A patients were treated with 20% salicylic acid and Group B patients were treated with 30% mandelic acid every 15 days for six sessions. Pre- and post-peel sunscreen and moisturizer were prescribed. Percentage of improvement in inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions at the end of six sessions was the primary endpoint measure. The improvement was graded as mild, moderate, good, and significant. Results: All the patients showed improvement of acne at the end of the treatment. The mean improvement of inflammatory acne in Group A was 73.3% and in Group B was 65.4%. The mean improvement of noninflammatory acne in Group A was 39.4%, and Group B was 27.9%. In both groups, the improvement in both inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Salicylic acid peel was found to be more efficacious than mandelic acid peel. However, the side effects were less common with no postinflammatory hyperpigmentation with mandelic acid peel.

Keywords

• chemical peel
• inflammatory acne
• mandelic acid
• noninflammatory acne
• salicylic acid