Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Treatment of 50% Mandelic Acid Versus 30% Salicyclic Acid Peel in the Treatment of Mild-Moderate Acne Vulgaris at Teaching Care Hospital, Bahawalpur

Abstract

Objective: The natural skin has started to gain popularity in the management of the acne vulgaris. Mandelic acid is one of the new peeling agent found in the last period that has become a treatment agent in curing acne vulgaris, it is sterile and anti-irritating. There is therefore a need to make an assessment as to whether it is worth using or not in terms of its profile on utility and care and comparing it to the standard and known acidic peeling agent, salicylic acid in treating acne vulgaris. Study Design: Prospective, randomized control comparative study. Place and duration of study: Dermatology department, CMH Bahawalpur from January 2025 till July 2025. Methodology: The 120 patients who were healthy and had mild to moderate acne on their face were randomly selected were divided to groups A or B; six sessions of a total of 2 weeks; Group A (Salicylic acid 30 percent) and Group B (Mandelic acid 50 percent). The scores and clinical photographs of Michaelson were used to determine the efficacy of the therapy on an objective basis. The worst impacts of one of the models were recorded on each visit. The p-value of 0.05 or lower has been considered to be significant.  Results: The efficacy of mild to moderate AV with both peels was close to similar. Salicylic acid worked better on non-inflammatory lesions, whereas inflammatory lesions were treated effectively with MA. Overall, no considerable variation existed between the two peels in the improvement of mean MAS. The MA peel, however, had fewer negative impacts. Both groups had a 60% good to excellent improvement and a 40% good improvement. Conclusions: The 50 % MA peel was not only as effective, but safer and tolerable than the 30 % SA peel in the treatment of mild-to-moderate AV of the face.

Keywords: Acne vulgaris, mandelic acid, Michaelson acne score, salicylic acid