WEDNESDAY, July 19, 2023 -- For patients with acne, especially those with moderate-to-severe acne, lymecycline is superior to doxycycline, according to a study published online in the July issue of SKIN.

Rekha Gurunatham Ponnurangam, M.D., from Tagore Medical College Hospital in Rathinamangalam, India, and colleagues compared the efficacy of topical 2.5 percent benzoyl peroxide gel with oral doxycycline versus topical 2.5 percent benzoyl peroxide gel with oral lymecycline for treatment of acne vulgaris in a study involving 100 patients. Participants were divided into two groups: benzoyl peroxide gel applied once daily at night and oral doxycycline 100 mg twice a day (group A; 50 patients) and benzoyl peroxide gel applied once daily at night and oral lymecycline 408 mg once a day (group B; 50 patients) for 12 weeks. The Indian Association of Acne was used for grading at baseline and every two weeks for 12 weeks. After completion of the study, patients were followed for another 12 weeks.

The researchers found that patients in group B had significant improvement at two, eight, and 10 weeks, with reduction seen in both the number of lesions and the severity of acne. Rapid initiation of improvement was seen for patients in group B among the severe grades of acne, with results within eight weeks compared with about 12 weeks for group A. Similar efficacy was seen for both drugs for less severe grades of acne.

"From our study it is evident that lymecycline is superior to doxycycline, with much statistical significance among moderate-to-severe acne," the authors write. "There was earlier reduction in lesions and the duration of therapy needed was also less than that needed for doxycycline."