Duac
Encyclopedia
The drug combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin is a topical gel used for the treatment of acne
Acne vulgaris
Acne vulgaris is a common human skin disease, characterized by areas of skin with seborrhea , comedones , papules , pustules , Nodules and possibly scarring...

. It is sold under the trade names Duac (by Stiefel Labs) and BenzaClin (by Sanofi Aventis). Both contain 1% clindamycin phosphate and 5% benzoyl peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide is an organic compound in the peroxide family. It consists of two benzoyl groups bridged by a peroxide link. Its structural formula is [C6H5C]2O2. It is one of the most important organic peroxides in terms of applications and the scale of its production...

 and are prescription drug
Prescription drug
A prescription medication is a licensed medicine that is regulated by legislation to require a medical prescription before it can be obtained. The term is used to distinguish it from over-the-counter drugs which can be obtained without a prescription...

s.

Side effects

Common side effects are peeling, itching, redness, dryness, burning, and dermatitis
Dermatitis
-Etymology:Dermatitis derives from Greek derma "skin" + -itis "inflammation" and genetic disorder.-Terminology:There are several different types of dermatitis. The different kinds usually have in common an allergic reaction to specific allergens. The term may describe eczema, which is also called...

. Prolonged exposure to natural or artificial sun light (UV rays) is not recommended because the gel can cause photosensitivity. Also, benozoyl peroxide may cause bleaching of hair, clothing, etcetera, and topical clindamycin may rarely cause diarrhea
Diarrhea
Diarrhea , also spelled diarrhoea, is the condition of having three or more loose or liquid bowel movements per day. It is a common cause of death in developing countries and the second most common cause of infant deaths worldwide. The loss of fluids through diarrhea can cause dehydration and...

 or colitis
Colitis
In medicine, colitis refers to an inflammation of the colon and is often used to describe an inflammation of the large intestine .Colitides may be acute and self-limited or chronic, i.e...

.

Mode of action

Its activity is derived from the combined anti-bacterial action of clindamycin and from the comedolytic and anti-bacterial actions of benzoyl peroxide. Both ingredients have been shown to reduce the number of acne lesions with statistical significance.

Clindamycin phosphate is a water-soluble ester of the semi-synthetic antibiotic, clindamycin, which is synthesized from lincomycin
Lincomycin
Lincomycin is a lincosamide antibiotic that comes from the actinomyces Streptomyces lincolnensis. It has been structurally modified by thionyl chloride to its more commonly known 7-chloro-7-deoxy derivative, clindamycin...

. It prevents the Propionibacterium acnes
Propionibacterium acnes
Propionibacterium acnes is a relatively slow growing, typically aerotolerant anaerobic gram positive bacterium that is linked to the skin condition acne; it can also cause chronic blepharitis and endophthalmitis, the latter particularly following intraocular surgery...

bacteria from replicating by preventing it from making vital proteins. Benzoyl peroxide also kills P. acnes, but since it is an oxidizer, not an antibiotic, it is not subject to P. acnes resistance like clindamycin is. Also, benzoyl peroxide dries out the area, preventing clogged pores and is a keratolytic
Keratolytic
Keratolytic therapy is treatment to remove warts and other lesions in which the epidermis produces excess skin. In this therapy, acid medicine, such as salicylic acid is put on the lesion. Keratolytic therapy thins the skin on and around the lesion. It causes the outer layer of the skin to loosen...

agent.

How supplied

Duac comes supplied in two ways, in a 45 gram tube, and in the DUAC CS Convenience Kit, containing the 45 gram tube and a bottle of SFC Lotion, a soap-free cleanser that is applied to either wet or dry skin then rubbed off with a tissue or soft cloth.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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