Administration of 6-[3-(1-adamantyl)-4-methoxyphenyl]-2-naphthoic acid for the treatment of dermatological disorders

A method for eliciting an early onset of action in regression of non-inflammatory lesions in treating common acne afflicting an individual's skin, the individual being in need of such treatment, comprising topically administering daily to said individual an anti-acne effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition which consists essentially of:

• (1) 0.3% by weight of 6-[3-(1-adamantyl)-4-methoxyphenyl]-2-naphthoic acid (adapalene) or salt thereof;
• (2) one or more ingredients selected from the group consisting of carbomer 940, carbomer 934, disodium edetate, methyl paraben, propylene glycol, PEG methyl glucose sesquistearate, PEG 400, methyl glucose sesquistearate, cyclomethicone, perhydrosqualene, propyl paraben, glycerol, sodium hydroxide, ethanol and phenoxyethanol;
• (3) water;
• and (4) optionally, one or more additive selected from the group consisting of wetting agents, pH regulators, osmotic pressure modifiers, emulsifiers, UV-A and UV-B screening agents and antioxidants, wherein said composition is formulated into a pharmaceutically acceptable medium therefor, said composition being a gel or a cream, said early onset of action occurring by two weeks after treatment begins and being demonstrated by regression of non-inflammatory lesions after two weeks of treatment greater than that demonstrated by vehicle alone or by a similar composition comprising 0.1% by weight of adapalene after two weeks of treatment.