Abstract
Background and Objectives: Post-acne erythema (PAE) is a frequent consequence of acne-related inflammation, characterized by the persistence of telangiectasia and erythematous lesions following the treatment of acne. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of levocetirizine plus oxymetazoline topical solution in the treatment of post-acne erythema.
Methods: This therapeutic clinical trial was conducted from January to July 2024 at Sulaimani Teaching Center for the treatment of skin disease, in Sulaimani, Iraq. Including both genders, a total of 60 post-acne erythema patients were included, with a mean age of 24.25 ± 6.87 years (13-40). The Clinician Erythema Assessment score was estimated at baseline and after being treated with Levocetirizine plus Oxymetazoline topical solution.
Results: At the baseline, the majority of the patients (48.3%, n=29) had mild erythema, then moderate erythema (25.0%, n=15) then severe (15.0%, n=9), only 11.7% (n=7) had slight erythema. While, at the end of the follow-up (at 28 weeks), 73.3% (n=44) of the patients were clear and 26.7% (n=16) had slight erythema, (P<0.001). The mean clinician erythema score was 2.37 ± 0.92 at the baseline, the value declined to 0.08 ± 0.17 at the end of the follow-up, with a highly significant difference (P<0.001).
Conclusion: There was a marked improvement in post-acne erythema from baseline to the end of the follow-up period. The clinician erythema scores showed a highly significant reduction, reflecting the effectiveness of the combination of Levocetirizine with Oxymetazoline in reducing erythema severity.