2.5% solution of flutamide (a nonsteroidal antiandrogen) in the topical treatment of acne vulgaris. A double-blind randomized study

Abstract

This pilot study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of a topically applied 2.5% solution of flutamide (a nonsteroidal antiandrogen) versus its placebo vehicle in the treatment of acne vulgaris. A total of 80 patients (33 males and 47 females) were treated for a period of 16 weeks. Inflammatory lesions (papules, pustules and nodules combined) responded better to flutamide (–56.7%) than to placebo (–36.7%; P=0.01). There was no meaningful difference between the effect of flutamide (–48.6%) and of placebo (–45.3%) on noninflammatory lesions (comedones). A relatively high level of local side-effects such as scaling, burning/stinging, pruritus, erythema and vesicles were observed in both the flutamide (60.0%) and the placebo (56.4%) groups. However, there were no systemic side-effects reported. This first clinical study demonstrated that flutamide 2.5% solution is effective in the topical treatment of acne vulgaris.

Key Words:

• Topical flutamide
• Acne vulgaris