Topical Therapy for Acne in Women: Is There a Role for Clindamycin Phosphate–Benzoyl Peroxide Gel?

A subset analysis of the data from the phase 3 pivotal trials with CP 1.2%–BP 2.5% gel was completed to compare reductions in both inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions in female participants who were younger than 25 years and 25 years of age or older in all 4 study arms. This information has been presented^14,17 but has not been previously published. Based on the overall results reported in the phase 3 studies, there were no differentiations in skin tolerability or safety based on participant age, gender, or skin type.²² The subanalysis included a total of 1080 females who were younger than 25 years and 395 females who were 25 years of age or older. The lesion reduction outcomes of this subanalysis are presented in the Table. Statistical analyses of the results among these age groups in the 4 study arms were not completed because the objective was to determine if there were any major or obvious differences in reduction of AV lesions based on the conventional dividing line of 25 years of age in adult women as compared to adolescent females treated with CP 1.2%–BP 2.5% gel. In addition, the large difference in numbers of female participants between the 2 age groups (>25 years of age, n=395; <25 years of age, n=1080) at least partially confounds both statistical and observational analysis. Among the women who were 25 years of age or older who were included in the subanalysis, 67.0% and 25.8% were between the ages of 25 to 35 years and 36 to 45 years, respectively. Based on the outcomes reported in the phase 3 trials and in this subgroup analysis, CP 1.2%–BP 2.5% gel applied once daily over a 12-week period appeared overall to be comparably effective in females regardless of age and with no apparent adverse events regarding differences in skin tolerability or safety.^14,22 One observation that was noted was the possible trend of greater reduction in both lesion types in women older than 35 years versus younger females with the use of the combination gel or BP alone; however, the number of female participants who were older than 35 years of age was substantially less (n=102) than those who were 35 years of age or younger (n=1345), thus precluding support for any definitive conclusions about this possible trend.²²

How can CP 1.2%–BP 2.5% gel be incorporated into a treatment regimen for women with facial AV?

The incorporation of CP 1.2%–BP 2.5% gel into a treatment regimen for women with facial AV is similar to the general use of BP-containing formulations in the overall management of AV.^9,14,27,28 Because women with AV commonly present with facial inflammatory lesions and many also with facial comedones, CP 1.2%–BP 2.5% gel is best used once daily in the morning in combination with a topical retinoid in the evening,^9,27 which can be achieved with use of CP 1.2%–BP 2.5% gel in the morning and a topical retinoid (ie, tretinoin, adapalene, tazarotene) in the evening or CP 1.2%–tretinoin 0.025% gel in the evening. It is important to note that cutaneous irritation may be more likely if neck lesions are present; the potential for bleaching of colored fabric by BP also is a practical concern.²⁸ In addition, CP 1.2%–BP 2.5% gel may also be used in combination with topical dapsone, but both products should be applied separately at different times of the day to avoid temporary orange discoloration of the skin, which appears to be an uncommon side effect but remains a possibility based on the product information for dapsone gel 5% with regard to its concomitant use with BP.^29,30