Combination of Clascoterone 1% and Adapalene 0.3% Shows Promise for Acne

Combination therapy with clascoterone cream 1% and adapalene gel 0.3% significantly improves acne severity and quality of life, while maintaining excellent tolerability in patients with moderate-to-severe acne vulgaris, according to a 16-week pilot study presented by Dr. Leon Kircik et al at the 2025 Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference.

The open-label, single-arm study enrolled 20 patients aged 13 to 44, 17 of whom completed the full 20-week protocol. Participants applied clascoterone twice daily and adapalene once nightly. By Week 16, 65% of patients achieved an Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA) score of clear (0) or almost clear (1), meeting the primary endpoint.

Significant reductions were observed in lesion counts:

• Inflammatory lesions decreased by 90.5%,

• Noninflammatory lesions decreased by 84.8%,

• Total lesions decreased by 87.3% (all P < .001).

Quality of life, assessed via Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), improved by a mean of 3.7 points (P = .02), indicating reduced disease burden.

Treatment was well tolerated. Most local skin reactions (erythema, dryness, peeling, burning, pruritus) were rated absent or trace throughout the study. No adverse events were reported during the 20-week treatment and follow-up period.

“This small, open-label pilot study shows promising results for topical combination treatment targeting three pathogenic factors of acne,” the authors concluded. “Larger studies are needed to further elucidate the efficacy and safety profile of concomitant use of these agents.”