Shalita 1981.

Study characteristics
Methods	Aim of study: to evaluate the treatment of mild and moderate AV with SA in an alcohol‐detergent vehicle Design: parallel Unit of allocation: individuals Allocation: randomisation; no details Blinding: not described Duration of trial (from recruitment to last follow‐up): conducted from early March to 6 June 1980 Dropouts: none
Participants	Population description: mild to moderate acne Setting: not described Randomised number: 49 Age: 12 to 20 Sex (M/F): 17/32 Severity of illness: mild to moderate
Interventions	Name of treatment group: SA; n = 25 Description: 0.5 % SA in an alcoholic detergent solution (Stri‐Dex Medicated pads) Treatment period: 12 weeks Timing: not reported Name of treatment group: placebo; n = 24 Description: pads soaked in buffered water Treatment period: 12 weeks Timing: not reported
Outcomes	Primary outcomes Participants' global self‐assessment of acne improvement (e.g. measured by a 4‐point scale: excellent, good, fair, and poor). Authors did not report this outcome Withdrawal for any reason. No withdrawals Secondary outcomes Change in lesion counts (total or inflamed and non‐inflamed separately). Percentage reduction of lesion counts, weeks 4, 8 and 12 Physicians' global evaluation of acne improvement. Week 12; a 4‐point Likert‐type scale (excellent, good, fair, poor) Minor adverse events (assessed as total number of participants who experienced at least one minor adverse event). No adverse events reported and authors only said side effects were minimal. Quality of life. Authors did not report this outcome
Notes	Funding: none known
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Quote: "The test products were randomised and coded by the sponsor of the study". Comment: no details of random methods were provided
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Not mentioned
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Not mentioned
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Not mentioned
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	It reported all the 45 participants' results, no missing outcome data
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Low risk	Results reported for all prespecified outcomes in the methods section
Other bias	Low risk	No other potential bias identified