This study compared the efficacy of oral azithromycin and oral doxycycline in treating acne vulgaris. 28 patients with mild to moderate acne were randomly assigned to receive either doxycycline 100mg daily or azithromycin 500mg three times weekly for three months. While doxycycline significantly reduced comidonal lesions by 78.5%, azithromycin reduced inflammatory lesions like papules and pustules more effectively, by 73.5% and 82.3% respectively. The study concluded that oral azithromycin is better than doxycycline for treating inflammatory acne.

1. Comparison of the Efficacy of Oral Azithromycin and
Oral Doxycycline for the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris.
KNL Pathiraja (MD):Consultant Dermatologist, Ministryof Health,
Sri Lanka
Background: Acne vulgaris is the most common dermatological problem in
young age group.
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of oral azithromycin vs. oral doxycycline for
the treatment of acne vulgaris.
Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight patients with mild to moderate acne
were equally randomized into two groups. Patients in the first group were given
doxycycline 100mg daily and the second group were given oral azithromycin
500mg three times weekly for three consecutive days. Patients were assessed
baseline, and then monthly for three months.
Results: The study showed that comidonal acne lesion count was significantly
reduced by 78.5% with doxycycline and by 56.4% with azithromycin treatment.
However, the reduction of the inflammatory acne was significantly higher in
azithromycin group. Reduction of papular lesions was 73.5% and pustular
lesions were 82.3% in azithromycin group and were only 61.0% and 70.5% in
doxycycline group respectively.
Conclusion: Oral azithromycin is a better in treatment of inflammatory acne as
compared to oral doxycycline.