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Acne Vulgaris: Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis
- A medical history and dermatologic examination are necessary
to characterize the types of acne and to evaluate underlying medical
disorders.
Treatment
Treatment should address both the physical and psychological effects
of acne. Light and laser therapies may be used to treat acne in the
future.
- A number of topical therapies are used to treat acne, including
retinoids (e.g., tretinoin, adapalene and tazarotene), acid preparations
(e.g., salicylic acid, azelaic acid and glycolic acid), and benzoyl
peroxide.
- Severe acne can be treated with intensive topical treatment,
but may require oral medications.
Oral antibiotics can be used to attack the bacteria that cause
acne. They are usually prescribed for six months.
Isotretinoin (Accutane) is usually reserved for the most severe
cases of acne that do not improve with other treatments. It is
effective, but it is also expensive and has many potential adverse
effects, including birth defects if pregnancy occurs. Close follow–up
is necessary for laboratory work, including pregnancy tests, liver
function tests, cholesterol levels, and blood counts. Treatment
usually lasts six months.
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