Acne vulgaris frequently causes skin disfigurement and psychological distress. Thus prompt management is crucial. A recent study searched PubMed regarding the management of acne and found that its treatment includes proper skin care, topical medications, oral medications and procedural therapies. Topical agents remain the first-line treatment for managing mild-to-moderate acne and can be combined with other therapy for more severe acne. Systemic therapies are utilized for the initial treatment of moderate-to-severe acne and acne refractory to topical therapies.

Recommendation stands for using topical retinoids for treating and maintaining patients with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris. The severity of the acne mandates employing topical retinoids either alone or in combination with benzoyl peroxide and topical or oral antibiotics. Using oral antibiotics is essential in inflammatory acne unresponsive to topical therapy. Topical as well as oral antibiotics are not advised to be used alone or as monotherapy. Many women may also be benefitted from oral contraceptives and/or spironolactone. Oral isotretinoin is recommended in severe, extensive, nodular acne vulgaris but can also be used in moderate cases with scarring, significant acne-related psychosocial distress or in failure of other treatment modalities.

Source: Leung AK, Barankin B, Lam JM, et al. Dermatology: how to manage acne vulgaris. Drugs Context. 2021;10:2021-8-6.