Acne Vulgaris Treatment Guidelines

Synopsis:

Several factors increminated in pathogeneis. Increased sibum secretion, due to increased end organs sensitivity to androgens,folicular duct hypercornification and increased colonisation with Propionibacterium acnes.
Onset: 12 to 14 years of age.

Morphology:

Polymorphic eruption consisting of papules, pustules, nodules, cysts and typically open and closed comedones on a background of oiliness. Heal with pitted / hypertropic scars.

Sites: Face, upper trunk, deltoid region.

Variants: Acne conglobata, chloracne, drug induced acne, acne after message.

Treatment: Depends on the predominant type of lesions and the severity. In predomintly comedonic acne, comedolytic agents like retinoic acid (0.025 - 0.1 %), adeplene (0.1 %) and benzoyl peroxide (2.5% - 10%) are used while in more severe acne, systemic antibiotics like teracyclines and macrolides and in acne conglobata isotretinoin are used.

Acne Vulgaris is a disorder of the pilosebaceous complex which predominantly affects the peripubertal population, clinically manifests as comdones (open / closed), papules, nodules, putules and cysts and the lesiones heal with scars.

Etiology:

Although the basic cause of acne is unknown, several factors are incriminated in its pethogenesis.