Efficacy and safety of topical resorcinol 15% versus topical clindamycin 1% in the management of mild-to-moderate hidradenitis suppurativa: A retrospective study

Topical and systemic antibiotic therapy remains the first-line treatment for mild-to-moderate hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). However, literature data on antibiotic resistance in HS are growing. A total of 134 patients with mild-to-moderate HS were retrospectively evaluated. Seventy-three patients (group A) received topical clindamycin 1% and 61 patients (group B) received topical resorcinol 15%. We evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of topical 15% resorcinol versus topical 1% clindamycin in mild-to-moderate HS, comparing the clinical response at 12 weeks of treatment. Patients treated with resorcinol 15% showed a significant improvement in Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinical Response, International Hidradenitis Suppurativa Severity Score System, and Pain Visual Analogue Scale score from baseline compared to patients treated with clindamycin 1%. Topical resorcinol 15% could be a valid alternative to clindamycin in the management of acute and long-standing HS, limiting antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance.