A posthoc analysis showed that tretinoin lotion 0.05% is effective in treating inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions in black patients with acne. It also effectively reduced postinflammatory pigmentation, which frequently coexists with acne.

Even though topical retinoids including tretinoin, adapalene, tazarotene are cited to be the cornerstone of topical acne treatment, there is a dearth of evidence on the specific treatment of acne in the black population. Tretinoin lotion 0.05% is a new topical therapy for treating moderate to severe cases of acne. The lotion is formulated using the polymeric emulsion technology to enhance the efficacy and tolerability of the lotion. In a post hoc analysis of black patients with acne, tretinoin lotion 0.05% was reported to be safe and well-tolerated. In the analysis, the frequently reported adverse events were reduced in incidence and included reactions at the site of application and other skin-related conditions, which were well established of the known properties of tretinoin. A notable response to the use of lotion in black patients was that it showed significantly reduced irritation potential of the formulation. The adverse events associated with treatment were mild and mostly occurred in female patients. Also, dryness and pain at the site of application were lower in incidence as compared with the white population. About one-fourth of the participants had mild to moderate erythema, scaling, itching, and stinging at baseline; however, these improved with treatment.

Following the post hoc analysis, the authors suggested that this new tretinoin lotion 0.05% is safe, and well-tolerated topical therapy amongst black patients with moderate to severe comedonal and inflammatory acne. It does not induce PIH and may be considered to be an effective, well-tolerated, dual treatment option.

Reference:

Bhatia ND, et al. Cutis 2020; 106(1): 45-50.