Resorcinol - A Snapshot
- Resorcinol may be familiar to most dermatologists as one of the three ingredients in Jessner's peel.
- It has antimicrobic, anti-inflammatory and keratolytic properties (1).
- Growing concerns about antibiotic resistance, particularly with the use of topical clindamycin, has seen a resurgence in the interest of resorcinol as a topical agent in the management of patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (2).
- Studies have demonstrated superior clinical response in patients treated with 15% resorcinol compared to 1% clindamycin (3).
- Irritation, desquamation and brown pigmentation are usually minimal and treatment satisfaction is typical high with minimal side effects (4).
- Other reports for uses of resorcinol in dermatology include; acne, melasma, dissecting cellulitis and pilonidal sinus.
REFERENECES
1. Borelli C, Ursin F, Steger F. The rise of Chemical Peeling in 19th-century European Dermatology: emergence of agents, formulations and treatments. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2020 Sep;34(9):1890-1899. doi: 10.1111/jdv.16307. Epub 2020 May 25. PMID: 32080904.
2.Molinelli E, Brisigotti V, Simonetti O, Campanati A, Sapigni C, D'Agostino GM, Giacchetti A, Cota C, Offidani A. Efficacy and safety of topical resorcinol 15% as long-term treatment of mild-to-moderate hidradenitis suppurativa: a valid alternative to clindamycin in the panorama of antibiotic resistance. Br J Dermatol. 2020 Dec;183(6):1117-1119. doi: 10.1111/bjd.19337. Epub 2020 Aug 9. PMID: 32579711.
3. Molinelli E, Brisigotti V, Simonetti O, Sapigni C, D'Agostino GM, Rizzetto G, Giacchetti A, Offidani A. Efficacy and safety of topical resorcinol 15% versus topical clindamycin 1% in the management of mild-to-moderate hidradenitis suppurativa: A retrospective study. Dermatol Ther. 2022 Jun;35(6):e15439. doi: 10.1111/dth.15439. Epub 2022 Mar 18. PMID: 35278025; PMCID: PMC9286535. [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/dth.15439]
4. Docampo-Simón A, Beltrá-Picó I, Sánchez-Pujol MJ, Fuster-Ruiz-de-Apodaca R, Selva-Otaolaurruchi J, Betlloch I, Pascual JC. Topical 15% Resorcinol Is Associated with High Treatment Satisfaction in Patients with Mild to Moderate Hidradenitis Suppurativa. Dermatology. 2022;238(1):82-85. doi: 10.1159/000515450. Epub 2021 Apr 22. PMID: 33887735..
Free online publications
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Topical Tacrolimus
ALA Photodynamic Therapy for Actinic Keratoses
