• Mushayada Irshad, Akbar Waheed Syed, Muhammad Waseem Shahid, Uzma Naeem, Mehreen Mirza, and Samarah Naeem.
• Department of Pharmacology, IIMC, Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
• J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2023 May 1; 33 (5): 516520516-520.

ObjectivesTo measure the efficacy of oral probiotics when combined with a topical agent, and to compare the efficacy of Azithromycin, Probiotics, and their combination for the treatment of acne vulgaris.Study DesignA quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of the Study: Pharmacology Department, IIMC in mutual collaboration with the Dermatology Department, Pak Emirates Military Hospital (PEMH), Rawalpindi, from September 2021 to August 2022.MethodologySeventy-five patients were enrolled in the study and were divided into 3 groups. Group A received Azithromycin (250mg oral on alternate days), Group B received probiotics i.e. Hi-Flora sachet (1 sachet oral daily), and Group C received both azithromycin (250mg oral on alternate days) and probiotics (Hi-Flora 1 sachet oral daily). The efficacy of three treatment regimens was measured by checking the difference in mean lesion count at the baseline and after 3 months of treatment and the percentage was calculated.ResultsAll patients demonstrated significant improvement in total lesion count after treatment. In group A, the mean lesion count was reduced by 83.3%, in group B by 84.4%, and in group C, the reduction in mean lesion count was 90.3%.ConclusionProbiotics have equal efficacy to azithromycin, and their combination has shown synergistic effects for the treatment of acne vulgaris. Probiotics should be used in combination with azithromycin for the best results for the management of acne vulgaris.Key WordsAcne vulgaris, Azithromycin, Probiotics, Efficacy.

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