Description
What is Acnedap 5% dapsone gel and how does it work?
Acnedap gel 5% made by reputable Cipla and contains the active ingredient dapsone, a sulfone component that is used as a topical treatment for acne vulgaris but is also used to treat serious infections like leprosy. Acne forms as a result of overstimulation of the sebaceous glands (oil producing glands in hair follicles). This often happens in response to a surge of androgen hormones at puberty and causes pores to become clogged with dead skin, leading to the formation of new pimples, whitehead and blackheads (comedones), which can become infected and inflamed.
Clogged pores attract bacteria which then overgrow and cause infection. Propionibacterium acnes are bacteria that normally exist on the skin without causing any problems, living on fatty acids in the sebum (oil) secreted by the sebaceous glands (oil producing glands in hair follicles of the skin).
Dapsone in Acnedap gel 5% is a sulfone antibacterial with anti-inflammatory actions and is thought to work by blocking the formation of dihydrofolic acid bacterial cells, a precursor for folic acid, which is needed for nucleic acid synthesis. This does not affect the host cells as only preformed folic acid is used in mammalian cells. This action of dapsone in Acnedap gel 5% kills the bacteria and prevents the spread of bacteria. Acnedap gel 5% is an effective and well-tolerated option for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris.
The side effects of dapsone 5 Acnedap?
The most commonly reported side effects when using Acnedap include dryness, itching, and redness of the skin at the site of application. Other rare side effects include Methemoglobinemia (a blood disorder where abnormal amounts of the blood pigment methemoglobin is produced.
When should Acnedap not be used?
You should not use Acnedap gel 5% if you:
- are allergic to dapsone or any ingredients in Acnedap
- are pregnant or are breastfeeding, without discussion with your doctor
- have a glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency as this may increase risk of hemolytic anemia when using Acnedap
- are using benzoyl peroxide containing medication for acne followed by dapsone as this may cause a temporary local yellow or orange discoloration of the skin and facial hair
- are taking medicines that induce methemoglobinemia when using Acnedap, such as sulfonamides, acetaminophen, acetanilide, aniline dyes, benzocaine, chloroquine, dapsone, naphthalene, nitrates and nitrites, nitrofurantoin, nitroglycerin, nitroprusside, pamaquine, para‐aminosalicylic acid, phenacetin, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primaquine, and quinine
How to use dapsone 5% gel
Aanedap gel, 5% dapsone should be applied to the affected areas twice daily. The patient should follow the instructions given below and by your dermatologist while using Acnedap gel:
- The affected areas should be thoroughly washed with water.
- The pinpoint tube should be squeezed to extract the required amount of ACNEDAP Gel, 5%, onto your fingertip.
- A thin film of ACNEDAP Gel, 5%, should be gently applied to the affected areas.
- The cap of the tube should be kept tightly closed after use.
- If there is no improvement after 12 weeks, treatment with ACNEDAP Gel, 5%, should be reassessed.
- Continue to use your Acnedap gel 5% daily for as long as recommended by your dermatologist, which is usually 12 weeks.
References
Pickert A, Raimer S. An evaluation of dapsone gel 5% in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2009 Jun;10(9):1515-21.
Al-Salama ZT, Deeks ED. Dapsone 7.5% Gel: A Review in Acne Vulgaris. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2017 Feb;18(1):139-145
Maria Pala –
I’ve been taking Dapsone for DH (dermatitis Herpetiformin) since 1993 through to now Aug 2018 with no issue. I did find though dapsone has a reaction with NSAID’s, even things like Voltaren cream. You break out in lesions and you think you’ve missed a tablet or got a large dose of gluten somehow, so you take more dapsone to compensate and the lesions get worse. Took a few years to work it out on my own, then google it and lots of people have found the same. Great drug but don’t take NSAIDs.”
Inez –
BEST.ACNE.MEDICINE.EVER. I used Acnedap for I’d say 2 months and boom, acne, GONE. I have been continuously using Acnedap now for probably 4 years and it is still my tried and true. Whenever I do get a pimple here and there, I apply a dot of the product to the area a few times and day and within 24 hours it’s gone!”
Berta –
I’ve had acne ever since I was 14, but throughout the years it just got worse and worse. In February of 2019 my acne became the worst it has ever been, it affected my mood every day and sometimes to the point where I wouldn’t want to leave my house. I went to the dermatologist and was prescribed Aczone (I bought a generic version here at okdermo) along with another topical cream ( which is a retinoid). The doctor told me to apply the Aczone in the morning and the retinoid at night, and as skeptical as I was about these creams let me just tell you they work. You have to be patient because it does get worse before it gets better. I started the medication in April and my skin didn’t clear up until September but please do not give up on this medication because it saved my self-esteem. It’s also important to remember to only put a pea-sized amount… when I first started I would put a lot more than required and it started to make my face oily which caused more breakouts. Use only a little bit and it goes a long way!