Tazarotene and Imiquimod Offer Similar Efficacy in Treating Plane Warts, reports study

The key findings of the study were as follows:

• Complete clearance was achieved in 50% of patients, while 15% experienced partial response and 35% showed no response.

• Complete clearance was achieved in 40% of patients, with another 40% experiencing partial response and 20% showing no response.

• There was no significant difference in treatment efficacy between the imiquimod and tazarotene groups (P=0.190).

• Both active treatments provided significant improvement over baseline and the placebo group (P=0.001).

• However, tazarotene 0.1% gel may offer advantages such as a safer profile regarding dyspigmentation and a lower cost.

Both treatments were generally well-tolerated, with no significant safety concerns reported. Side effects, including local irritation and inflammation, were manageable and did not differ significantly between the groups.

Tazarotene 0.1% gel appears to offer equivalent efficacy to imiquimod 5% cream in treating plane warts. Moreover, it provides maintained efficacy without recurrence, a safer profile regarding dyspigmentation, and an advantageous cost benefit. These findings suggest that tazarotene could be a preferred option for treating plane warts, particularly in cosmetically significant areas.

Reference:

Nofal, H., Omran, F., ElKholy, B., Nofal, S., & Nofal, A. (2024). Tazarotene is as effective and tolerable as imiquimod in the treatment of verruca plana, a comparative randomized clinical trial. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology. https://doi.org/10.1093/ced/llae133