Ziana (Zee-Ah-Na) is a new topical gel that is approved by the FDA.
Ziana can be used to treat acne in patients who are 12 years or older.
Like many other acne medications, Ziana gel combines two different acne medications. But while these other acne medications, such as Benzamycin and Benzaclin, combined an antibiotic with benzoyl peroxide, Ziana combines an antibiotic (Clindamycin) with tretinoin 0.025%, the active ingredient in Retin A.
Ziana is typically used at bedtime, after your child has washed his face with a mild soap and warm water and patted his skin dry. it is important to use no more than a pea size amount of Ziana though and then apply it as a thin layer over his entire face.
Ziana is availalbe as a topical gel in a 2g, 30g, and 60g tube.
Unfortunately, Ziana only comes in one strength right now. So while your pediatrician might increase your child to Retin A 0.05% or 0.1% if his acne wasn't getting better, he is limited to the 0.025% dose of tretinoin in Ziana. I suspect that we might see higher strengths of Ziana later...
The most common side effects of using Ziana include skin irritation, such as erythema (redness), scaling, itching, burning, or stinging. Ziana can also cause a temporary skin color change, either making your child's skin lighter or darker. And Ziana can rarely cause colitis, with severe watery diarrhea or bloody diarrhea.
Your child should not use Ziana if he has regional enteritis, ulcerative colitis, or a history of antibiotic associated colitis.
As with most acne medicines, when using Ziana, your child should be careful to not do anything to irritate his skin, and should:
- use only a pea-sized amount of Ziana
- use sunscreen
- not use Ziana more than once a day
- avoid excessive exposure to the sun (including tanning booths), cold weather, or to wind
- wash his face gently with a mild soap no more than 2 or 3 times a day
Ziana Prescribing Information Sheet. Medicis.
Two randomized, double-blind, controlled trials of 2219 subjects to compare the combination clindamycin/tretinoin hydrogel with each agent alone and vehicle for the treatment of acne vulgaris. Leyden JJ - J Am Acad Dermatol - 01-JAN-2006; 54(1): 73-81.
