Acne vulgaris is the most common dermatological disorder. Pediatric acne may be a manifestation of the underlying pathology and can occur in the first weeks, months or years of life. Acne in childhood can be categorized by age and pubertal status.

A new article published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology aimed to present a consensus paper on neonatal through preadolescent acne, providing information on differential diagnosis, prevention, treatment and maintenance of the condition, developed by an expert panel of pediatric dermatologists and dermatologists.

This systematic literature review explored present clinical guidelines, treatment options and therapeutic approaches addressing neonatal through preadolescent acne.

The unanimous consensus on seven statements addressed various age categories of pediatric acne: neonatal acne – birth to ≤ eight weeks; infantile acne – eight weeks to ≤ 1 year; mid-childhood acne – one year to ≤ 7 years; preadolescent acne: ≥ 7 years to 12 years; adolescent acne: ≥ 12 to 19 years or after menarche for girls. It was advised that health care providers treating children need to pay more attention to pediatric acne and should monitor the risk of endocrine-associated abnormalities, especially in mild-childhood acne. When prescribing acne treatment, newer medications approved for use in children older than nine years of age may offer a suitable option.

It was concluded that the differential diagnosis of pediatric acne, as well as its treatment and maintenance, requires much more attention and consideration from health care providers treating children.

Source: Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2020 Jun 1;19(6):592-600. doi:10.36849/JDD.2020.5065.