Inclusion Criteria:
1. Informed consent obtained: Written informed consent, before any study-related procedure, personally signed and dated by the patient if the patient is ≥ 18 years old, or signed and dated by the parents or the legal guardian(s) if the patient is ≥ 9 to \< 18 years old. An additional informed assent form must be signed by patient if ≥ 9 to \<18 years old to confirm his willingness to participate in the study. If the patient becomes 18 years of age during the study, the patient must provide written informed consent at that time to continue study participation
2. Sex and age: Male and female patients aged ≥ 9 and \<50 years
3. Diagnosis at screening and baseline visits:
* a) Patients affected by facial acne vulgaris with: Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) score:
* equal to 3-4 if patient is \> 14 and \< 50 years old
* ≥ 2 if the patient is ≥ 9 and ≤ 14 years old. Face Inflammatory lesions: ≥ 20 and ≤ 100 inflammatory lesions (papules and pustules) and ≤ 1 nodules on the face. Face Non-inflammatory lesions: ≥ 20 and ≤ 100 non-inflammatory lesions (open and closed comedones) on the face.
* b) Patients affected also by truncal acne (optional criteria): The patient has a truncal acne on areas of the trunk (shoulders, upper back and upper anterior chest) accessible for patient's self-application of study medication with a severity grade equal to 2 or 3 on the Physician Global Assessment (PGA) scale. The patient has a minimum of 20 inflammatory lesions (papules and pustules) and 20 non-inflammatory lesions (open and closed comedones) but no more than 100 non-inflammatory lesions and no more than 100 inflammatory lesions and ≤ 1 nodules on areas of the trunk (shoulders, upper back and upper anterior chest) reachable to patient's self-application of study medication at screening and baseline
4. Full comprehension: Patients and their parents/legal guardian(s) (for \<18 years old patients) can comprehend the whole nature and purpose of the study, including possible risks and side effects, and are able to cooperate with the Investigator and to comply with the requirements of the entire study
5. Contraception and fertility: Women of childbearing potential must be using an effective contraception method during the entire duration of the study (effective contraception methods are those considered at least "acceptable" according to CTFG Recommendations). A prior stable treatment period is required for the following reliable methods of contraception:
* Hormonal oral, implantable, transdermal, or injectable contraceptives must be stable for at least 6 months before the baseline visit
* A non-hormonal intrauterine device (IUD) must be started at least 2 months before the baseline visit.
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Acne:
* Patients with a known history of acne persistent and unresponsive to topical and/or oral treatments within 6 months before randomization
* Patients with generalized or localized acne forms other than acne vulgaris, e.g., acne conglobata, acne fulminans, acne rosacea, secondary acne (chloracne, drug-induced acne, etc), nodule-cystic acne
* Patients with acne requiring systemic treatment
2. Beard and facial/body hair, tattoos:
* Patients with a beard or who intend to grow a beard and/or to perform a facial tattoo during the study
* Patients with facial hair or facial tattoos that could interfere with study assessments in the investigator's opinion
* For patients with truncal acne: body hair, tattoos (or who intend to perform them) on the shoulders, upper back or upper anterior chest accessible to self-application of study medication by the patient (evaluable area) that may interfere with the study assessments in the investigator's opinion
3. Skin diseases: Patients with other active skin diseases (e.g., urticaria, atopic dermatitis, sunburn, seborrheic dermatitis, perioral dermatitis, rosacea, skin malignancies) or active skin infections in the facial or truncal region (bacterial, fungal, or viral) or any other facial or truncal disease or condition that might interfere with the evaluation of acne or place the patient at unacceptable risk
4. Allergy: Known or suspected hypersensitivity to any active or inactive ingredient in the study medications. Patients with a history of an allergic reaction or significant sensitivity to the formulations' ingredients
5. Topical therapies: Patients who are currently using, will use during the study, or discontinued less than 4 weeks before study baseline the use of prescribed and/or over-the-counter topical therapies for the treatment of acne, including but not limited to: corticosteroids, antibiotics, azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide, salicylates, α-hydroxy/glycolic acid, any other topical cosmetic therapy for acne and retinoids on the face/trunk
6. Topical skin care products and procedures: Patients who are currently using, will use during the study, or discontinued less than 4 weeks before study baseline the use of products for facial/truncal application containing glycolic or other acids, masks, washes or soaps containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, non-mild cleansers or moisturizers containing retinol, salicylic or alpha- or beta-hydroxy acids, facial/truncal procedures such as chemical peel, laser treatment, photodynamic therapy, acne surgery, cryodestruction or chemodestruction, x-ray therapy, intralesional steroids, dermabrasion
7. Phototherapy: Patients who are currently using, will use during the study, or discontinued less than 4 weeks before study baseline phototherapy for the treatment of acne, including but not limited to: UV-A, UV-B, heliotherapy. Patients who have the need or plan to be exposed to artificial tanning devices or excessive sunlight during the study
8. Systemic therapies: Patients who are currently using, will use during the study, or discontinued less than 12 weeks before study baseline the use of systemic therapies for the treatment of acne, including but not limited to: antibiotics, isotretinoin. Other systemic therapies that could affect the patient's acne (i.e., anabolics, lithium, EGRF inhibitors, iodides, systemic corticosteroids - except inhaled corticosteroids or intrathecal corticosteroids - or other immunosuppressants), in the opinion of the investigator
9. Known systemic diseases that can lead to acneiform eruptions:
1. Increased androgen production. 1) Adrenal origin: e.g., Cushing's disease, 21-hydroxylase deficiency; 2) Ovarian origin: e.g., polycystic ovarian syndrome, ovarian hyperthecosis
2. Cryptococcosis disseminated
3. Dimorphic fungal infections
4. Behçet's disease
5. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
10. Investigative studies: Participation in the evaluation of any investigational product or device within 24 weeks before study baseline
11. Diseases: Patients with underlying uncontrolled or unstable conditions (including but not limited to metabolic, hematologic, renal, hepatic, pulmonary, neurologic, endocrine, cardiac, infectious or gastrointestinal and auto-immune), which, in the Investigator's opinion, could significantly compromise the patient's safety and/or place the patient at an unacceptable risk. Any condition that in the investigator's opinion would make it unsafe for the patient to participate in the study.
12. Alcohol and other substance abuse: History of alcohol or other substance abuse within one year before screening
13. Communication: Patient(s) and parents/legal guardian(s) (if applicable) unable to communicate or cooperate with the investigator due to e.g., language problems, impaired cerebral function, impaired mental conditions
14. Reliability: Patients who may be unreliable for the study including patients who are unable to return for the scheduled visits
15. Pregnancy: Pregnant or breastfeeding women or women of childbearing potential who are planning to become pregnant during the study. \*For all female patients of childbearing potential, pregnancy test result must be negative at screening.
