Acne vulgaris research record
10 treatments have a posted result against a comparison group. The exact treatment and comparison numbers are below.
The guide helps with care decisions. This page is the supporting trial record.
01
These treatments have at least one completed trial that posted a result against a comparison group — the only kind of result that can show the treatment itself made the difference. Each card is one trial against its own comparator, so cards can’t be compared head-to-head. Every result-posting study in the record was scanned, not just recent ones. A “vehicle” is the same cream or gel without the active ingredient — the fairest comparison for a topical.
35 of 100
Reference Product (n=339)
14 of 100
placebo (n=163)
21.3 more people per 100 reached the trial’s rating of treatment success at week 12.
Serious adverse events in this trial: 0 of 469 on treatment vs 1 of 237 in the comparison group (submitted counts).
Outcome: Clinical Success on Investigator's Global Evaluation · NCT01796665 details · ClinicalTrials.gov record · Phase 3 · Industry-run
38 of 100
Adapalene/Benzoyl Peroxide Gel (n=419)
18 of 100
Gel Vehicle (n=418)
20 more people per 100 reached the trial’s rating of treatment success at week 12.
Serious adverse events in this trial: 3 of 419 on treatment vs 2 of 418 in the comparison group (submitted counts).
Outcome: Success Rate on the Investigator's Global Assessment · NCT00421993 details · ClinicalTrials.gov record · Phase 3 · Industry-run
27 of 100
Benzoyl Peroxide Gel (n=415)
18 of 100
Gel Vehicle (n=418)
8.8 more people per 100 reached the trial’s rating of treatment success at week 12.
Serious adverse events in this trial: 3 of 419 on treatment vs 2 of 418 in the comparison group (submitted counts).
Outcome: Success Rate on the Investigator's Global Assessment · NCT00421993 details · ClinicalTrials.gov record · Phase 3 · Industry-run
25 of 100
Clindamycin Gel (n=328)
18 of 100
vehicle (no active) (n=332)
7.2 more people per 100 reached a better rating from the trial’s own assessor at baseline (day 1) and week 12.
Serious adverse events in this trial: 0 of 328 on treatment vs 0 of 332 in the comparison group (submitted counts).
Outcome: Number of Participants With Improvement of at Least 2 Grades in the Investigator's Static Global Assessment (ISGA) Score From Baseline to Week 12 · NCT00776919 details · ClinicalTrials.gov record · Phase 3 · Industry-run
15 of 100
FMX-101, 4% Minocycline Foam (n=333)
8 of 100
vehicle (no active) (n=162)
6.8 more people per 100 reached clear or almost-clear skin at week 12.
Serious adverse events in this trial: 4 of 333 on treatment vs 2 of 162 in the comparison group (submitted counts).
Outcome: Percentage of Participants Achieving Investigator's Global Assessments (IGA) Treatment Success at Week 12 · NCT02815280 details · ClinicalTrials.gov record · Phase 3 · Industry-run
22 of 100
Adapalene Gel (n=418)
18 of 100
Gel Vehicle (n=418)
3.9 more people per 100 reached the trial’s rating of treatment success at week 12.
Serious adverse events in this trial: 1 of 418 on treatment vs 2 of 418 in the comparison group (submitted counts).
Outcome: Success Rate on the Investigator's Global Assessment · NCT00421993 details · ClinicalTrials.gov record · Phase 3 · Industry-run
4 more treatments have a comparative result — marked in the full treatment list below.
Before paying more for a newer option, check whether it beat the alternative in its own trial. In these primary outcomes, it didn’t:
21 registered acne studies posted numeric results that this index maps to a treatment. Each has its own page showing exactly what was submitted, group by group.
Most trials compare against a placebo or vehicle. These posted outcomes compared one active treatment with another — the comparison that actually answers “which one?”:
Among the most-studied acne treatments, these pairs have never even appeared together in a registered trial — so no public evidence says which one is better:
Regulatory status of the tracked treatments — whether the molecule studied in the trials above is available over the counter, as a generic, or brand-only. 15 of them have an OTC, generic, or biosimilar route.
| Treatment | Status | United States | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| adapalene (Differin)The OTC 0.1% gel and the prescription 0.3% gel contain the same molecule at different strengths. | Available over the counter | Adapalene 0.1% gel is sold OTC (Differin Gel, switched from prescription in 2016); the 0.3% gel and other strengths and forms remain prescription-only. source | Prescription-only in Canada (Differin); no OTC adapalene product. source |
| adapalene + benzoyl peroxide (Epiduo, Epiduo Forte, TactuPump)The OTC gel, prescription generics, and Epiduo all pair the same two molecules at 0.1%/2.5%; Epiduo Forte uses a higher adapalene strength. | Available over the counter | The 0.1%/2.5% gel was approved for OTC sale in May 2026 (Differin Epiduo, retail from summer 2026); prescription generics of the 0.1%/2.5% gel exist, and Epiduo Forte (0.3%/2.5%) remains prescription-only. source | Prescription-only in Canada, marketed as TactuPump and TactuPump Forte. source |
| benzoyl peroxide (PanOxyl)OTC products and prescription combinations (with clindamycin or adapalene) use the same molecule. | Available over the counter | OTC at 2.5%-10% in washes, gels, and creams under the FDA topical acne monograph (M006). source | Sold without a prescription in Canada in similar strengths. source |
| azelaic acid (Finacea, Azelex)The 15% gel/foam (rosacea) and 20% cream (acne) contain the same molecule at different strengths; lower-strength azelaic acid also appears in cosmetics. | Generic prescription available | Finacea 15% gel (rosacea) has prescription generics; the 15% foam remains brand-only; Azelex 20% cream (acne) is brand-only. source | Finacea 15% gel is available in Canada by prescription. source |
| calcipotriene (calcipotriol) (Dovonex, Sorilux)Calcipotriene (US name) and calcipotriol (international name) are the same vitamin D analog. | Generic prescription available | Generic calcipotriene cream, ointment, and solution are available by prescription; also sold in combination with betamethasone (Taclonex and generics). source | Known as calcipotriol in Canada (Dovonex and combinations); prescription-only. source |
| clindamycin (Cleocin T, Clindagel, Dalacin T)Topical acne clindamycin is the same antibiotic used orally for infections, formulated for the skin. | Generic prescription available | Topical gels, lotions, solutions, and foams as well as oral clindamycin are available as prescription generics. source | Prescription-only; marketed as Dalacin T and generics. source |
| clindamycin phosphate (Cleocin T, Dalacin T)Clindamycin phosphate is the ester form of clindamycin used in topical products; it converts to the same active antibiotic in the skin. | Generic prescription available | Prescription topical products (solution, gel, lotion, foam) are available as generics. source | Prescription-only; marketed as Dalacin T and generics. source |
| clindamycin phosphate + benzoyl peroxide (BenzaClin, Duac, Onexton)Brand gels (BenzaClin, Duac, Onexton, Acanya) and their generics pair the same two molecules at varying strengths. | Generic prescription available | Prescription combination gels (1%/5%, 1.2%/2.5%, 1.2%/3.75%) with generic equivalents available. source | Marketed by prescription in Canada (e.g., Clindoxyl gel). source |
| clindamycin phosphate + benzoyl peroxide (Acanya)Acanya contains the same two molecules found in generic clindamycin phosphate-benzoyl peroxide gels. | Generic prescription available | Prescription gel combining clindamycin phosphate 1.2% and benzoyl peroxide 2.5%; generic clindamycin-benzoyl peroxide gels are available. source | Prescription clindamycin-benzoyl peroxide combination gels (e.g., Clindoxyl) are marketed in Canada. source |
| dapsone (Aczone)Topical dapsone gel and oral dapsone tablets contain the same molecule in different formulations. | Generic prescription available | Aczone 5% and 7.5% acne gels have prescription generic equivalents; oral dapsone tablets are also generic. source | not verified |
| doxycycline (Oracea, Vibramycin, Apprilon)The 40 mg modified-release rosacea capsule contains the same molecule as generic immediate-release doxycycline, at a sub-antimicrobial dose. | Generic prescription available | Oral doxycycline (used at antibiotic doses for acne) is a widely available generic; the 40 mg modified-release anti-inflammatory capsule for rosacea (Oracea) has had generics since 2024. source | Generic oral doxycycline is available by prescription; the 40 mg modified-release form is marketed as Apprilon. source |
| isotretinoin (Absorica, Accutane, Epuris)All isotretinoin capsule brands and generics contain the same molecule; low-dose use in rosacea is off-label in both markets. | Generic prescription available | Oral isotretinoin is generic (e.g., Claravis, Amnesteem, Absorica) and dispensed under the iPLEDGE safety program; rosacea use is off-label. source | Available by prescription as brands (Accutane, Clarus, Epuris) and generics. source |
| metformin (Glucophage)No metformin product is approved for melasma in the US or Canada; trial use involves the same molecule sold generically for diabetes. | Generic prescription available | Generic prescription tablets approved for type 2 diabetes; use for melasma (topical or oral) is off-label/investigational. source | Generic prescription metformin is available in Canada for diabetes; melasma use is off-label. source |
| minocycline (Minocin, Solodyn, Amzeeq)The brand-only 4% topical foam and generic oral capsules contain the same antibiotic. | Generic prescription available | Oral minocycline, including extended-release tablets, is generic by prescription; the 4% topical foam (Amzeeq, approved 2019) is brand-only. source | Oral minocycline is generic by prescription in Canada. source |
| tretinoin (Retin-A, Altreno, Stieva-A)Prescription generics and brands contain the same molecule; unlike adapalene, no tretinoin product is sold OTC in the US or Canada. | Generic prescription available | Topical tretinoin creams and gels (0.01%-0.1%) are prescription generics; for melasma, tretinoin alone is off-label but it is one of the three molecules in the approved combination Tri-Luma. source | Prescription-only; available as brands (Retin-A, Stieva-A) and generics. source |
| apremilast (Otezla)Apremilast is a small-molecule tablet but currently has no marketed US generic. | Brand-only prescription | Otezla tablets are brand-only by prescription; no generic is currently marketed in the US. source | Otezla is available by prescription in Canada. source |
| clascoterone (Winlevi)Clascoterone is available only as the brand Winlevi in both markets. | Brand-only prescription | Winlevi 1% cream (approved 2020) is prescription-only; no generic is available. source | Winlevi 1% cream approved by Health Canada in June 2023; prescription-only. source |
| sarecycline (Seysara)Sarecycline is a narrow-spectrum tetracycline sold only as the brand Seysara, unlike doxycycline and minocycline, which are generic. | Brand-only prescription | Seysara tablets are brand-only by prescription; no generic. source | not verified |
Regulatory status only, verified 2026-08-20 with one source per claim — not pricing, coverage, or a recommendation. Status can change; check the linked source.
Search by brand or generic name, or browse the 60 most-studied terms. They are ordered by what the public record can show, not by benefit or safety.
At week 12, 21.8% of people in the Adapalene Gel group had the submitted improvement result (Success Rate on the Investigator's Global Assessment), compared with 17.9% in the Gel Vehicle group—3.9 more people per 100.
One submitted registry outcome, not a pooled estimate — from NCT00421993 details · ClinicalTrials.gov record · Phase 3 · Industry lead sponsor · vs placebo/vehicle · earliest favourable time point: week 12
At week 12, 26.7% of people in the Benzoyl Peroxide Gel group had the submitted improvement result (Success Rate on the Investigator's Global Assessment), compared with 17.9% in the Gel Vehicle group—8.8 more people per 100.
One submitted registry outcome, not a pooled estimate — from NCT00421993 details · ClinicalTrials.gov record · Phase 3 · Industry lead sponsor · vs placebo/vehicle · earliest favourable time point: week 12
At Baseline (Day 1) and Week 12, 25% of people in the Clindamycin Gel group had the submitted improvement result (Number of Participants With Improvement of at Least 2 Grades in the Investigator's Static Global Assessment (ISGA) Score From Baseline to Week 12), compared with 17.8% in the Vehicle Gel group—7.2 more people per 100.
One submitted registry outcome, not a pooled estimate — from NCT00776919 details · ClinicalTrials.gov record · Phase 3 · Industry lead sponsor · vs placebo/vehicle · earliest favourable time point: week 12
At week 12, 37.9% of people in the Adapalene/Benzoyl Peroxide Gel group had the submitted improvement result (Success Rate on the Investigator's Global Assessment), compared with 17.9% in the Gel Vehicle group—20 more people per 100.
One submitted registry outcome, not a pooled estimate — from NCT00421993 details · ClinicalTrials.gov record · Phase 3 · Industry lead sponsor · vs placebo/vehicle · earliest favourable time point: week 12
At 12 week, Acne Lesion Percent Reduction changed by -53.5% in the Brand group and -35% in the Placebo group—a difference 18.5 percentage points numerically larger in the selected group.
One submitted registry outcome, not a pooled estimate — from NCT01243450 details · ClinicalTrials.gov record · Phase 3 · Industry lead sponsor · vs placebo/vehicle · earliest favourable time point: week 12
At Baseline (Day 1) and Week 2, Percent Change in Total Lesion Counts (TLs) From Baseline to Week 2 changed by -42.2% in the DUAC group and -35.3% in the ADA 0.1% +CLDM 1% group—a difference 6.9 percentage points numerically larger in the selected group.
One submitted registry outcome, not a pooled estimate — from NCT02557399 details · ClinicalTrials.gov record · Phase 4 · Industry lead sponsor · vs another active treatment
At Week 12, Change in Inflammatory Lesion Counts changed by -58.4% in the Test group and -53.3% in the Placebo group—a difference 5.1 percentage points numerically larger in the selected group.
One submitted registry outcome, not a pooled estimate — from NCT02886715 details · ClinicalTrials.gov record · Phase 3 · Industry lead sponsor · vs placebo/vehicle · earliest favourable time point: week 12
At Baseline and Week 12, 14.7% of people in the FMX-101, 4% Minocycline Foam group had the submitted improvement result (Percentage of Participants Achieving Investigator's Global Assessments (IGA) Treatment Success at Week 12), compared with 7.9% in the Vehicle Foam group—6.8 more people per 100.
One submitted registry outcome, not a pooled estimate — from NCT02815280 details · ClinicalTrials.gov record · Phase 3 · Industry lead sponsor · vs placebo/vehicle · earliest favourable time point: week 8
At Baseline and 12 Weeks, Primary Change in Inflammatory Lesion Counts changed by -72.9% in the Test: Trifarotene Cream, 0.005% group and -34.1% in the Vehicle Product group—a difference 38.8 percentage points numerically larger in the selected group.
One submitted registry outcome, not a pooled estimate — from NCT05550337 details · ClinicalTrials.gov record · Phase 3 · Industry lead sponsor · vs placebo/vehicle · earliest favourable time point: week 12
At Baseline to week 12, 35.4% of people in the Reference Product group had the submitted improvement result (Clinical Success on Investigator's Global Evaluation), compared with 14.1% in the Placebo Product group—21.3 more people per 100.
One submitted registry outcome, not a pooled estimate — from NCT01796665 details · ClinicalTrials.gov record · Phase 3 · Industry lead sponsor · vs placebo/vehicle · earliest favourable time point: week 12
02
Only 21 of 200 result-posting acne studies reported participants’ separately measured skin type. The public record therefore rarely shows whether people with skin like yours were included.
Among 200 completed studies with posted results, this is how often each participant detail was reported.
03
Open the part you need. Every count remains tied to this condition and snapshot.
265 completed trials did not post numeric results to the registry as of 2026-09-11. A missing result does not mean the treatment failed; it means the public cannot check what happened.
Among studies that ended at least 12 months ago, 200 of 442 (45.2%) posted results.
65% were led by industry, usually the company selling the treatment. This is context about who asked the question, not proof that a result is wrong.
Lead sponsor class is not the same as all funding, and it is not a study-quality score.
Across 322 primary-outcome time points, the typical trial judged success around week 12. This record does not support a claim of visible results in days.
Median study duration: 10 months.
| Year | Study starts |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2006 | 15 |
| 2007 | 15 |
| 2008 | 29 |
| 2009 | 40 |
| 2010 | 32 |
| 2011 | 30 |
| 2012 | 25 |
| 2013 | 28 |
| 2014 | 31 |
| 2015 | 39 |
| 2016 | 41 |
| 2017 | 23 |
| 2018 | 27 |
| 2019 | 23 |
| 2020 | 29 |
| 2021 | 28 |
| 2022 | 24 |
| 2023 | 33 |
| 2024 | 39 |
| 2025 | 28 |
| 2026 | 22 |
| 2027 | 1 |
Study locations are not participant nationality or ancestry.
ClinicalTrials.gov data through · methodology v2.1.0 · snapshot 9a17314144e5…
Source: official ClinicalTrials.gov search · snapshot · result-mapping layer (v1.1.0, 2026-08-21) · field guide and citation.
As of 2026-09-11, 200 of 465 completed acne trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov have posted results, and 10 treatments have a posted result against a comparison group (Skinlogie Evidence Index, https://skinlogie.com/evidence-index/acne).
Skinlogie’s derived figures are licensed CC BY 4.0 — reuse them with this attribution. Source records: ClinicalTrials.gov. Full dataset and citation format →