Abstract: Objective To compare and evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical short-contact therapy and once-daily therapy with 0.1% tazarotene cream in the treatment of acne vulgaris．Methods The present study was a prospective, open trial. The 0.1% tazarotene cream was made by Huabont pharmaceutical company in China. The short-contact therapy was only used 0.1% tazarotene cream for 5 minutes per application. The routine therapy was applied as a thin film over the affected area once daily in the evening. The duration of study was 8 weeks and the time of follow up was 1,2,4,8 week individually. A total of 101 patients with mild-to moderate facial acne vulgais were enrolled in present clinical study. Among them 52 patients were short-contact therapy and 49 patients were once-daily therapy with 0.1% tazarotene cream. Results The results showed that total effective rate was 69.1％ in short-contact therapy group and 75.1% in once-daily therapy group. There was no significant difference between two group(X2=6.501，P=0.09＞0.05). The adverse reaction was 21.2% in short-contact therapy group and 44.9% once-daily therapy group respectively. There was significant difference between two group(X2=8.538,P=0.036＜0.05). Conclusion The present study suggests that short-contact therapy of 0.1％ tazarotene cream was effective and safe for the treatment of acne vulgaris．

Key words: tazarotene