Acne Vulgaris: how to treat acne AND hyperpigmentation with one product ?

Answer: Vitamin A derivatives !

• Tretinoin (the skin lightening is observed on dyschromia but not normal skin: it is a regulator)
• Tazarotene: when used once a day in the evening it reduces the extent and intensity of Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH)
• Adapalene: reduction in the number of inflammatory lesions in african americanns. 66% of them experience a reduced extent and severity of Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH)

• Tazarotene vs adapalene: mesure of the resolution of PIH (Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation) at 16 weeks: 20% showed complete resolution in the tazarotene group vs 7% in the adapalene group. But of course all retinoids cause irritation and is higher with tazarotene than adapalene.

Contributors:

Dr Christophe HSU – dermatologist. Geneva, Switzerland

Bibliography: Woolery Lloyd. Managing Acne and Rosacea in Skin of Color Patients. Skin of color.  70th Annual Meeting of the AAD (American Academy of Dermatology) – San Diego, California, United States of America (USA)