Adapalene (Differin - Galderma), a synthetic retinoid analog, has been marketed in the USA in a 0.1% gel formulation for topical treatment of acne vulgaris.

Epiduo gel (Galderma), a fixed-dose combination of adapalene 0.1% (Differin), a synthetic retinoid analog, and benzoyl peroxide (BPO) 2.5%, an oxidizing agent, has been approved by the FDA for topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients ≥12 years old.

The FDA has approved Cabtreo (Bausch Health), a gel containing the retinoid adapalene, the oxidizing agent benzoyl peroxide, and the antibiotic clindamycin, for treatment of acne vulgaris in patients ≥12 years old. Cabtreo is the first three-drug topical formulation to become available in the US for treatment of acne.

Differin Gel 0.1% (Galderma), a topical formulation of the retinoid adapalene, will soon be available over the counter (OTC) for once-daily treatment of acne in patients ≥12 years old. It is the first topical retinoid to be approved for sale over the counter.All topical retinoids normalize keratinization and appear to have anti-inflammatory effects; whether any one topical retinoid is more effective than any other is not clear. Many dermatologists now recommend topical retinoids for first-line treatment of acne; they can be used alone or in combination with antibiotics to treat both inflamed...

Tazarotene (taz ar' oh teen, Tazorac - Allergan), an acetylinic retinoid marketed for treatment of psoriasis (Medical Letter 1997; 39:105), is also available as a 0.1% gel and cream for treatment of acne.

Veltin Gel (Stiefel), a fixed-dose combination of the antibiotic clindamycin phosphate 1.2% and the retinoid tretinoin 0.025%, has been approved by the FDA for topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients ≥12 years old. Another product containing the same active ingredients (Ziana) has been on the market since 2006.

The FDA has approved trifarotene 0.005% cream (Aklief – Galderma) for topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients ≥9 years old. Trifarotene is the fourth topical retinoid to be approved in the US for treatment of acne; tretinoin (Retin-A, and others), adapalene (Differin, and generics), and tazarotene (Tazorac, and others) have been available by prescription for decades. Adapalene 0.1% gel has been available over the counter since 2016 for treatment of acne in patients ≥12 years old.

Acne is common among adolescents and adults. Guidelines for treatment of acne were last published by the American Academy of Dermatology in 2016.

In Table 1 of our February 1, 2016 article Drugs for Acne (Med Lett Drugs Ther 2016; 58:13), the formulations for Differin, topical adapalene, should have been listed as 0.1% gel, cream, lotion; 0.3% gel (not 3% gel).

The FDA has approved Winlevi (Sun), a 1% cream formulation of the androgen receptor inhibitor clascoterone, for treatment of acne vulgaris in patients ≥12 years old. It is the first topical androgen receptor inhibitor to be approved by the FDA.