From the Guidelines
Desonide is not recommended as a first-line treatment for acne due to its potential to worsen acne with prolonged use and cause steroid acne, skin thinning, and rebound effects. It is a low-potency topical corticosteroid primarily used to treat inflammatory skin conditions like eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis. For acne, treatments that target the underlying causes—such as excess oil production, bacterial growth, inflammation, and clogged pores—are more appropriate. These include topical retinoids (like tretinoin or adapalene), benzoyl peroxide, topical antibiotics (clindamycin or erythromycin), or oral medications for severe cases, as recommended by the guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris 1.
The guidelines strongly recommend topical benzoyl peroxide, retinoids, and/or antibiotics and their fixed-dose combinations, and for oral doxycycline, with oral isotretinoin strongly recommended for severe acne, acne causing psychosocial burden or scarring, or acne failing standard treatment with oral or topical therapy 1.
Using desonide for acne may temporarily reduce inflammation and redness, but its use is not supported by the guidelines due to the lack of evidence on its effectiveness for acne treatment and the potential for adverse effects. If you're struggling with acne, it's better to use acne-specific treatments or consult with a dermatologist who can recommend an appropriate regimen based on your specific type and severity of acne. Proper acne treatment typically requires consistent use of targeted medications for several weeks to see improvement, along with gentle cleansing and non-comedogenic moisturizers.
Some key points to consider when treating acne include:
- Using topical therapies that combine multiple mechanisms of action to optimize efficacy and reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance
- Limiting systemic antibiotic use and combining systemic antibiotics with benzoyl peroxide and other topical therapies
- Considering adjuvant intralesional corticosteroid injections for larger acne lesions
- Avoiding the use of oral corticosteroids, flutamide, or metformin for acne treatment due to insufficient evidence on their effectiveness and potential adverse effects 1.
Overall, the guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations for the management of acne vulgaris, and desonide is not included as a recommended treatment option due to its potential to worsen acne and cause adverse effects.
From the FDA Drug Label
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY Like other topical corticosteroids, desonide has anti-inflammatory, antipruritic, and vasoconstrictive properties. The effect of Desonide on acne is not directly mentioned in the drug label.
- The label discusses the anti-inflammatory properties of desonide, but does not specify its effect on acne.
- There is no information that directly supports the use of desonide for acne treatment 2.
From the Research
Effect of Desonide on Acne
There are no research papers to assist in answering this question, as none of the provided studies mention Desonide, a topical corticosteroid, in relation to its effect on acne.
Available Information on Acne Treatment
- The treatment of acne depends on its severity and may involve topical or oral medications, including retinoids, antibiotics, and benzoyl peroxide 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
- Topical retinoids are considered a mainstay of acne treatment due to their ability to expel mature comedones, reduce microcomedone formation, and exert anti-inflammatory effects 5.
- Combination therapy, such as the use of topical retinoids and antimicrobials, is often recommended for the treatment of mild to moderate inflammatory acne 3, 4.
- Oral isotretinoin is considered the most effective treatment for acne, but it is typically reserved for severe cases due to its potential side effects 6.