Efficacy of Combination of Topical Ketoconazole 2% Cream and Adapalene 0.1% Gel versus Topical Ketoconazole 2% Cream Alone in Treatment of Pityriasis Versicolor

Abstract

Pityriasis Versicolor (PV) is a superficial skin infection caused by Malassezia yeasts, resulting in hypo and hyperpigmented macules. It affects up to 40% of individuals, often leading to itching, decreased quality of life, and social stigma. Objective: To compare the efficacy of combination of topical ketoconazole 2% cream and adapalene 0.1% gel versus topical ketoconazole 2% cream alone in treatment of pityriasis versicolor. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Dermatology, Nishtar Hospital, Multan, spanning from November 2020 to April 2021. Total 90 patients were divided equally into two groups: Group A received a combination of Ketoconazole 2% cream and adapalene 1% gel, while Group B received Ketoconazole 2% cream alone. The efficacy of both treatments was evaluated and compared. The study utilized SPSS version 26.0 for data analysis. Results: In terms of gender, 52.22% were male, and 47.78% were female across both groups. The mean duration of the disease was 5.84 ± 3.26 years in Group A and 6.04 ± 3.11 years in Group B, with an overall mean of 5.95 ± 3.17 years. The efficacy of Group A was 91.11%, with 41 participants showing positive results, while Group B had an efficacy of 75.56%, with 34 participants showing positive results. Conclusions: The study findings indicate that using a combination of adapalene 0.1% gel and ketoconazole 2% cream is more efficacious than using ketoconazole 2% cream alone in treating PV