Abstract

Acne vulgaris is common, embarrassing and sometimes disfiguring. Eight years ago we concluded that patients with mild acne were usually helped by topical benzoyl peroxide or tretinoin, whilst more severe acne responded better to oral antibiotics, endocrine treatments or isotretinoin.¹ Since then topical use of clindamycin, erythromycin and tetracycline has been introduced. Where do they fit in?