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. 2018 Apr 28;8(4):e019607. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019607

Table 2.

Summary of relevant characteristics of included studies

Studies Publication year Study design Country Sample size Women
(%)		 Fitzpatrick skin type Acne severity Interventions Main outcomes Follow-up (weeks)
Abdel et al10 2015 Single-centre, double-blind, split-face RCT. Egypt 20 85 III, IV, V Mild to moderate 25% TCA versus 30% SA (in hydroethanolic vehicle)

  • Percentage of total/good/fair/poor improvement in total lesions.

  • Percentage of total/good/fair/poor improvement in non-inflammatory lesions.

  • Percentage of total/good/fair/poor improvement in inflammatory lesions.

  • Reduction of lesion counts.

  • Adverse events.

 10
Alba et al11 2017 Single-centre, single-blind RCT. Brazil 22 41 II, III, IV, VI Mild to moderate 10% SA (in cream gel) versus phototherapy

  • Comedone counts.

  • Papule counts.

  • Pustule counts.

 10
Bae et al12 2013 Single-centre, single-blind, split-face RCT. Korea 13 0 III or IV Mild to moderate 30% SA versus JS

  • Number of non-inflammatory lesions.

  • Number of inflammatory lesions.

  • Self-reported good/moderate/mild/no improvement in all lesions.

  • Adverse events.

 8
Dayal et al13 2017 Single-centre, single-blind RCT. India 40 35 N/A Mild to moderate 30% SA versus JS.

  • Comedone counts.

  • Overall percentage decrease in mean comedone counts.

  • Papule counts.

  • Overall percentage decrease in mean papule counts.

  • Pustule counts.

  • Overall percentage decrease in mean pustule counts.

  • MAS.

  • Percentage decrease in mean MAS.

  • Percentage of good/fair/poor response.

  • Adverse events.

 12
EI Refaei et al14 2015 Single-centre, open-label RCT. Egypt 40 80 I, II, III, IV Mild to very severe 20% SA+10% MA (in ethyl alcohol vehicle) versus 35% GA (in distilled water)

  • Comedone counts.

  • Papule counts.

  • Pustule counts.

  • Percentage of improvement in comedones/papules/pustules/the total acne score.

  • Adverse events.

 20
Ilknur et al8 2010 Single-centre, single-blind, split-face RCT. Turkey 30 N/A II, III Mild to moderate GA (from 20% to 70%) versus AFA (from 20% to 60%)

  • Non-inflammatory lesion counts.

  • Inflammatory lesion counts.

  • Patients’ choice for future treatment.

  • Adverse events.

 24
Jaffary et al15 2016 Multi-centre, single-blind RCT. Iran 86 92 N/A Mild to moderate 30% SA (in alcohol vehicle) versus 50% PA (in hydro alcoholic vehicle)

  • Comedone counts.

  • Papule counts.

  • Pustule counts.

  • Percentage of excellent/good/fair/poor improvement of all lesions.

  • Acne Severity Index.

  • Percentage of patient satisfaction.

  • Adverse events.

 8
Kaminaka et al16 2014 Single-centre, double-blind, split-face RCT. Japan 25 64 N/A Moderate to severe 40% GA versus placebo (hydrochloric acid in polyethylene glycol vehicle)

  • Non-inflammatory lesion counts.

  • Inflammatory lesion counts.

  • Total lesion counts.

  • Percentage of excellent/good/fair/bad improvement in all lesions.

  • Bioengineering measurements.

  • Adverse events.

 10
Kessler et al19 2008 Single-centre, double-blind, split-face RCT. USA 20 65 N/A Mild to moderate 30% GA versus 30% SA

  • Mean number of all lesions.

  • Reduction of all lesions.

  • Percentage of good/fair/poor improvement in all lesions.

  • Self-reported overall improvement.

  • Adverse events.

 20
Kim et al20 1999 Single-centre, single-blind, split-face RCT. Korea 26 84.6 III, IV Mild to moderate 70% GA versus JS (resorcinol, salicylic acid, lactic acid in ethanol)

  • Percentage of patients who achieved improvement in acne scores of 0.5 or more.

  • Self-reported overall improvement.

  • Patients’ choice for future treatment.

  • Adverse events.

 8
Leheta21 2009 Single-centre, single-blind, RCT. Egypt 45 N/A II, III, IV Mild to moderate 20% TCA versus PDL

  • Acne severity score.

  • Mean remission period.

  • Percentage of marked/moderate response.

  • Self-reported cost-effectiveness ratio.

  • Adverse events.

 48
Levesque et al9 2011 Single-centre, open-label, split-face RCT. USA 20 95 N/A N/A LHA (5% or 10%) versus SA (20% or 30%)

  • Reduction of non-inflammatory lesions.

  • Inflammatory lesion counts.

  • Global acne assessment.

  • Adverse events.

 14

AFA, amino fruit acid; GA, glycolic acid; JS, Jessner’s solution; LHA, lipohydroxy acid; MA, mandelic acid; MAS, Michaelson Acne Score; N/A, not available; PA, pyruvic acid; PDL, pulsed dye laser; RCT, randomised controlled trial; SA, salicylic acid: TCA, trichloroacetic acid.