Salicylic–mandelic acid versus glycolic acid peels in Egyptian patients with acne vulgaris

Background: many studies have evaluated the glycolic acid peel (gap) in acne vulgaris; however, there is little in the literature about the use of a salicylic–mandelic acid peel (smp). objective: to evaluate the efficacy and the tolerability of a combination of 20% salicylic–10% mandelic acid peel (smp) against a 35% gap in the treatment of active acne vulgaris, postacne scarring, and associated hyperpigmentation in egyptian acne patients. patients and methods: this clinical trial was conducted on 40 patients with facial acne vulgaris divided randomly into group a (n = 20), which was treated with smp, and group b (n = 20), which was treated with gap for seven sessions every 2 weeks and followed up for 2 months (week 20). an objective assessment of the treatment outcomes was performed by the treating physicians, whereas a subjective assessment was performed by two independent dermatologists. patient satisfaction scores and side effects were also assessed. results: percentages of improvement in groups a and b from weeks 0 to 20 were 90.2 and 35.87% in comedones, 81.72 and 77.78% in papules, 85.38 and 75.65% in pustules, 85.29 and 68.50% in the total acne score, 66.13 and 46.88% in postacne hyperpigmentation, 17.85 and 11.9% in icepick scars, and 29.3 and 25.8% in boxcar scars, respectively. both peeling agents were associated with a burning sensation, dryness, desquamation, and acne flare. conclusion: both peeling agents were effective in the treatment of inflammatory acne, noninflammatory acne, and postacne hyperpigmentation. however, smp proved to have a higher efficacy than the more commonly used gap.