Management of truncal acne vulgaris with topical dapsone 7.5% gel

The majority of available data on the prevalence, grading, and management of acne vulgaris (AV) are based on studies that evaluate facial AV. Data are limited in all of these areas with truncal AV. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of topical management of truncal AV involving the chest and back in a three-center, open-label, 16-week study. Enrolled subjects (N=20), 12 years of age or older, applied dapsone 7.5% gel once daily as monotherapy. The primary endpoint of the study was the percent of subjects who achieved a two-grade improvement and a rating of clear or almost clear based on the Investigator Global Assessment scale. Secondary endpoints included percent reductions of inflammatory, non-inflammatory (comedonal), and total lesions at Week 16 compared to baseline. Tolerability and safety were assessed over the duration of the study.