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Home › Conditions › Acne vulgaris

Acne vulgaris

Subtypes of Acne vulgaris

Acne 2

5 published articles · Updated continuously

Clinical Trial Landscape

Clinical Trials for Acne vulgaris

171 trials tracked for Acne vulgaris: 113 in phase 3 or 4 and 15 with published results. The most-cited published study has 149 citations.

171Trials tracked
113Phase 3 & 4
0Recruiting
15With published results
Phase distribution
Phase 4 50 Phase 3 63 Phase 2 39 Phase 1 4 Other / NA 15
  1. Phase 3 A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of CB-03-01 Cream, 1% in Subjects With Facial Acne Vulgaris (25) Completed · 149 cited
  2. Phase 3 A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of CB-03-01 Cream, 1% in Subjects With Facial Acne Vulgaris (26) Completed · 149 cited
  3. Phase 4 Adapalene 0.3% - Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5% Gel and Risk of Formation of Atrophic Acne Scars Completed · 70 cited
  4. Phase 3 Study to Demonstrate the Efficacy and Safety of Adapalene/Benzoyl Peroxide Topical Gel in Subjects With Acne Vulgaris Completed · 69 cited
  5. Phase 3 Multi-center, Randomized, Double-blind Efficacy and Safety of CD0271 0.3%/CD1579 2.5 % Topical Gel in Acne Vulgaris Completed · 60 cited
  6. Phase 4 Study of Trifarotene Cream to Assess Risk of a Trophic Acne Scar Formation Completed · 30 cited
Show 44 more trials
  1. Phase 3 A Multi-Center Open-Label Evaluation of the Safety of Sarecycline Tablets in the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris Completed · 29 cited
  2. Phase 4 DUAC® Early Onset Efficacy Study in Japanese Subjects Completed · 20 cited
  3. Phase 3 Safety and Efficacy Study of Dapsone Gel in Patients With Acne Vulgaris Completed · 17 cited
  4. Phase 3 A Safety and Efficacy Study of Dapsone Gel in Patients With Acne Vulgaris Completed · 17 cited
  5. Phase 3 Subject Reported Outcomes With Use of Adapalene 0.3% - Benzoyl Peroxide (BPO) 2.5% in Dark Skin Acne Completed · 17 cited
  6. Phase 4 Benzac 5% Gel in Combination With Cosmetic Products in Acne Vulgaris Completed · 11 cited
  7. Phase 3 Clinical Study Comparing the Efficacy and Safety of IDP-126 Gel in the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris Completed · 7 cited
  8. Phase 3 Clinical Study Comparing the Efficacy and Safety of IDP-126 Gel in the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris Completed · 7 cited
  9. Phase 4 A Treatment for Severe Inflammatory Acne Subjects Completed · 6 cited
  10. Phase 4 A Treatment Regimen for Student Athletes With Mild to Moderate Acne Vulgaris Completed
  11. Phase 4 8 Week Study to Evaluate and Compare the Efficacy and Tolerability of MAXCLARITY II and MURAD To Treat Acne Completed
  12. Phase 4 Measuring Adherence in Subjects With Acne Vulgaris in a Clinic Population Subtitle: Topical Benzoyl Peroxide for Acne Completed
  13. Phase 4 Analysis of Adherence in Subjects Undergoing Differin Gel, 0.1% Treatment of Moderate to Severe Acne Vulgaris Completed
  14. Phase 4 U0289-401: Eight Week, Split-face, Study to Determine and Compare the Efficacy and Tolerability of MAXCLARITY™ II to PROACTIV™ Completed
  15. Phase 4 Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Clindamycin + Benzoyl Peroxide Formulation With Azelaic Acid Formulation in the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris Completed
  16. Phase 4 U0289-402: An Open Label, 8 Week Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Tolerability of MAXCLARITY II in Subjects With Acne Completed
  17. Phase 4 Effect of Samples on Acne Treatment With Epiduo® Gel Completed
  18. Phase 4 The Use of Onexton in Moderate Acne Vulgaris for Patients With Skin of Color Completed
  19. Phase 4 Safety and Efficacy Trial of ACZONE (Dapsone) Gel, 7.5% in 9 to 11 Year-Old Patients With Acne Vulgaris Completed
  20. Phase 4 Effects of Oral Zinc Gluconate Among Acne Vulgaris Patients Completed
  21. Phase 4 A Study to Compare Efficacy and Safety of Trifarotene Cream When Used With an Oral Antibiotic for the Treatment of Severe Acne Vulgaris (AV) Completed
  22. Phase 4 Aczone Gel 7.5% in the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris in Patients With Skin of Color Completed
  23. Phase 4 Subantimicrobial Doxycycline in Acne Completed
  24. Phase 4 AkLief Evaluation in Acne-induced Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation Completed
  25. Phase 4 A Study to Evaluate the Impact of Clascoterone 1% Cream on Skin Barrier Properties in Acne Prone Patients Completed
  26. Phase 4 A Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Clascoterone Cream 1% in Skin of Color Patients With Acne Completed
  27. Phase 4 A Study Assessing the Efficacy and Safety of Combined Use of Clascoterone 1% Cream and Duac Gel (Benzoyl Peroxide/Clindamycin) for the Treatment of Acne Completed
  28. Phase 4 A Study Assessing the Efficacy of Combined Use of Clascoterone 1% Cream and Adapalene 0.3% for the Treatment of Acne Completed
  29. Phase 4 Evaluation of Irritation That Potentially Could be Caused by Two Facial Gels Applied to Opposite Sides of the Face Completed
  30. Phase 4 A Study of Dapsone Gel in Females With Skin of Color and Acne Vulgaris Completed
  31. Phase 4 Evaluation of Quality of Life, Efficacy, and Tolerance of Duac® Gel Compared to Differin® Gel in the Treatment of Acne Completed
  32. Phase 4 Efficacy and Safety Study of Finacea to Treat Acne Vulgaris and Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH) Completed
  33. Phase 4 Pharmacokinetic Study to Compare the Systemic Exposure of Differin® Gel, 0.3% or Differin® Gel, 0.1% Completed
  34. Phase 4 Anti Propionibacterium(P.) Acnes Activity of Epiduo® Gel Compared to Benzoyl Peroxide (BPO) 2.5% Gel Completed
  35. Phase 4 Dapsone Gel 5% and Tazarotene Cream 0.1% Versus Tazarotene Cream 0.1% Monotherapy for Facial Acne Vulgaris Completed
  36. Phase 4 Study to Determine and Compare the Tolerance and Irritation Potential of Topical Acne Medications Completed
  37. Phase 4 Dapsone Gel 5% and Tretinoin Gel 0.025% Versus Tretinoin Gel 0.025% Monotherapy for Facial Acne Vulgaris Completed
  38. Phase 4 Compare the Tolerance of Clindamycin 1% /Benzoyl Peroxide (BPO) 5% Gel to Clindamycin 1.2%/ BPO 2.5% Topical Medications Completed
  39. Phase 4 Adherence to Study Medication Compared to Generic Topical Clindamycin Plus Generic Topical Tretinoin in Subjects With Mild to Moderate Acne Vulgaris Completed
  40. Phase 4 An Efficacy and Safety Study Comparing Oral Contraceptive Containing Norgestimate or Desogestrel for Acne Treatment Completed
  41. Phase 4 Aczone 5% Gel as Maintenance Treatment of Acne Vulgaris Following Completion of Oral Doxycycline and Aczone 5% Gel Completed
  42. Phase 4 Assessment of Subjects' Efficacy and Experiences Using Adapalene BPO Gel in the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris Completed
  43. Phase 4 A Study That Evaluates the Decrease in Irritation When Using Additional Acne Treatment Products Completed
  44. Phase 4 A Study Comparing Aczone® Plus Differin® Versus Duac® Plus Differin® in Patients With Severe Facial Acne Completed

Showing the 50 most-cited and recently-updated of 171 trials. Browse the full registry →

Trial data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. Counts describe the research landscape and are not a treatment recommendation. Informational only — not medical advice.

What the trials found For clinicians

Acne vulgaris: what the trials found

Several topical treatments demonstrate significant efficacy in reducing acne lesions and improving clinical scores. Clascoterone, whether used as a standalone cream or in combination with other agents like Duac gel or Adapalene, showed high rates of patients achieving 'clear' or 'almost clear' status on the Investigator Global Assessment (IGA) scale at week 16 [6, 7, 8]. These combinations also resulted in significant reductions in both total lesion counts and inflammatory lesions by week 16 [6, 7, 8].

Trifarotene cream demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in the count of atrophic acne scars at week 24 2 and was associated with a nearly 45% reduction in Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH) Overall Disease Severity scores by week 24 10. Additionally, Adapalene combined with benzoyl peroxide showed significant reductions in total lesion counts (up to 62.6%) and inflammatory lesions (up to 66.2%) 5, while the Epiduo formulation resulted in a reduction of the Global Acne Grading System score over time 14.

Other topical interventions including ABPO Forte Gel showed significant reductions in atrophic acne scar counts 1. Duac fixed-dose combination gel achieved substantial reductions in total lesion counts by week 12 (up to 65.23%) 3. Clindamycin combined with Benzoyl Peroxide also demonstrated significant reduction in inflammatory lesions by week 4 19. Furthermore, Aczone Gel was associated with improvements in the Global Acne Assessment Score and Post Acne Hyperpigmentation Index over a 24-week period 12.

Benzoyl peroxide (BPO) based formulations, including specific foam cleansers, showed significant reductions in inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesion counts at week 8 [18, 20]. ONEXTON Topical Gel also demonstrated progressive reduction in inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions over time 16.

Winlevi (clascoterone) 1% cream was associated with a significant improvement in corneometry readings compared to no treatment 9.

For the clinician treating this condition

  • Clascoterone, both alone and in combination with Duac or Adapalene, shows high efficacy rates for achieving clear/almost clear status and significant reduction of inflammatory lesions at 16 weeks.
  • Trifarotene is effective for reducing atrophic acne scar counts and improving post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) scores.
  • Combination therapies involving Adapalene and Benzoyl Peroxide, or Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide, provide statistically significant reductions in total and inflammatory lesion counts.

AI synthesis of 10 cited trials, updated Jun 25, 2026. Informational only — not medical advice; trial data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. How we use AI.

HCP Mode — summaries include clinical detail, trial data, and statistical outcomes.
Patient Mode — summaries use plain language, avoiding clinical jargon.
Electric welding linked to persistent nodular acne in 2 workers, improving away from exposure
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Electric welding linked to persistent nodular acne in 2 workers, improving away from exposure Electric welding may be linked to severe cases of acne
This case report from China describes 2 electric welders with persistent nodular acne that improved when away from occupational exposure. Th…
Workers exposed to electric welding and metal fumes developed persistent, severe acne that improved only when they were away from their work…
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Dapsone 5% and erythromycin 2% significantly reduce inflammatory lesion counts in acne vulgaris
Infectious Disease Sys. Review
Dapsone 5% and erythromycin 2% significantly reduce inflammatory lesion counts in acne vulgaris Trial shows specific antibiotics help treat certain types of acne
This network meta-analysis of 22,645 patients evaluated various topical antibiotic monotherapies for acne vulgaris. While specific agents li…
New data identifies which topical antibiotics are most effective at reducing different types of acne lesions while highlighting risks like a…
Aug 7, 2026
Systematic review and meta-analysis compares oral azithromycin and doxycycline for moderate to severe acne
Infectious Disease Meta-analysis
Systematic review and meta-analysis compares oral azithromycin and doxycycline for moderate to severe acne Azithromycin may work better than doxycycline for some acne cases
This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized evidence on oral azithromycin pulse therapy versus doxycycline for moderate to severe a…
A new review finds azithromycin pulse therapy may improve acne more than doxycycline, with fewer side effects for some patients.
May 5, 2026
Systematic review shows regional differences in HS comorbidity prevalence across North America, Europe, and Asia
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Systematic review shows regional differences in HS comorbidity prevalence across North America, Europe, and Asia Regional differences in health risks for hidradenitis suppurativa patients
This systematic review and meta-analysis examines the prevalence of hidradenitis suppurativa-associated comorbidities across North America, …
A meta-analysis reveals how hidradenitis suppurativa patients in North America, Europe, and the Middle East/Asia face different odds for dia…
May 1, 2026
Acne vulgaris associated with higher psychiatric symptoms and disordered eating in case-control study
Rheumatology Case-Control
Acne vulgaris associated with higher psychiatric symptoms and disordered eating in case-control study Acne Linked to Binge Eating and Depression in New Study
This case-control study of 120 patients with acne vulgaris and 100 healthy controls found significantly higher psychiatric symptoms, disorde…
Acne isn't just a skin problem—it's deeply tied to mental health and eating habits, affecting how patients feel about their entire lives.
Frontiers Apr 23, 2026