Trifarotene 0.005% Cream in the Treatment of Facial and Truncal Acne Vulgaris in Patients with Skin of Color: a Case Series

The clinical appearance of acne vulgaris (AV) and the response to therapeutic agents may vary in people with skin of color (SoC) compared with those with lighter skin types. Given the heightened potential for postinflammatory hyperpigmentation and keloid development, effective and timely AV treatment in patients with SoC is especially important. However, these patients are frequently underrepresented in clinical trials, and SoC photographs are generally underrepresented in dermatology. Trifarotene 0.005% cream is a retinoid approved for the once-daily topical treatment of AV, and was studied in large-scale clinical trials that assessed the treatment of AV on both the face and trunk. For severe AV, a topical retinoid may be used in combination with an oral antibiotic, such as doxycycline. Five subjects covering Fitzpatrick skin phototypes III, IV, V, and VI were selected from two larger studies to visually demonstrate treatment of clinically diagnosed AV with trifarotene 0.005% cream. Two subjects received 24 weeks of treatment with trifarotene 0.005% cream for moderate AV on the face and trunk, while three subjects received 12 weeks of treatment with trifarotene 0.005% cream in association with 120 mg oral doxycycline with modified polymer coating for severe facial AV. This case series supports the favorable efficacy and safety of facial and truncal AV treatment with trifarotene 0.005% cream, with or without oral doxycycline, in subjects with SoC (phototypes III–VI).