Abstract
Acne vulgaris (acne) is the most common skin disorder, affecting more than 80% of adolescents, although it may present at any age. Treatments for acne include topical (benzoyl peroxide, retinoids, antibioitics, azelaic acid) and systemic agents (antibiotics, zinc, hormonal therapies, isotretinoin), laser and light sources and combination treatments. The therapeutic approach to acne based on the European guidelines depends on the severity and type of acne (mild, moderate, severe acne; comedonal, papulopustular, nodular and conglobate acne). Also, the treatment of special age groups such as in childhood or adult acne requires special consideration.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Further Reading
Antoniou C, Dessinioti C, Stratigos AJ, Katsambas A. Clinical and therapeutic approach in childhood acne: an update. Pediatr Dermatol. 2009;26:373–80.
Bergstrom KG. Everything old is new again: spironolactone and metformin in the treatment of acne. J Drugs Dermatol. 2010;9:569–71.
Dessinioti C, Katsambas AD. Hormonal therapy for acne: why not as first line therapy? Facts and controversies. Clin Dermatol. 2010;28:17–23.
Dreno B, Layton A, Zouboulis CC, et al. Adult female acne: a new paradigm. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2013;27:1063–70.
Fitz-Gibbon S, Tomida S, Chiu BH, et al. Propionibacterium acnes strain populations in the human skin microbiome associated with acne. J Invest Dermatol. 2013;133:2152–60.
Harborne L, Fleming R, Lyall H, Sattar N, Norman J. Metformin or antiandrogen in the treatment of hirsutism in polycystic ovary syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003;88:4116–23.
Ibanez L, Diaz M, Sebastiani G, et al. Treatment of androgen excess in adolescent girls: ethinylestradiol-cyproteroneacetate versus low-dose pioglitazone-flutamide-metformin. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011;96:3361–6.
Jarrousse V, Castex-Rizzi N, Khammari A, Charveron M, Dreno B. Zinc salts inhibit in vitro Toll-like receptor 2 surface expression by keratinocytes. Eur J Dermatol. 2007;13:492–6.
Jugeau S, Tenaud I, Knol AC, et al. Induction of toll-like receptors by Propionibacterium acnes. Br J Dermatol. 2005;153:1105–13.
Kolodziejczyk B, Duleba AJ, Spaczynski RZ, Pawelczyk L. Metformin therapy decreases hyperandrogenism and hyperinsulinemia in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril. 2000;73:1149–54.
Nast A, Dreno B, Bettoli V, et al. European evidence-based (S3) guidelines for the treatment of acne. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2012;26 Suppl 1:1–29.
Preneau S, Dessinioti C, Nguyen JM, Katsambas A, Dreno B. Predictive markers of response to isotretinoin in female acne. Eur J Dermatol. 2013;23:478–86.
Ross JI, Snelling AM, Carnegie E, et al. Antibiotic-resistant acne: lessons from Europe. Br J Dermatol. 2003;148:467–78.
Schuster M, Zouboulis CC, Orchsendorf F, et al. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor activators protect sebocytes from apoptosis: new treatment modality for acne? Br J Dermatol. 2011;164:182–6.
Smith RN, Mann NJ, Braue A, Mäceläinen H, Varigos GA. The effect of a high-protein, low glycemic-load diet versus a conventional, high glycemic-load diet on biochemical parameters associated with acne vulgaris: a randomized, investigator-masked, controlled trial. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2007;57:247–56.
Zaba R, Schwartz RA, Jarmuda S, et al. Acne fulminans: explosive systemic form of acne. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2011;25:501–7.
Zouboulis CC. Acne and sebaceous gland function. Clin Dermatol. 2005;22:360–6.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2015 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Dessinioti, C., Dreno, B. (2015). Acne. In: Katsambas, A.D., Lotti, T.M., Dessinioti, C., D’Erme, A.M. (eds) European Handbook of Dermatological Treatments. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-45139-7_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-45139-7_1
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-662-45138-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-662-45139-7
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)