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Acne vulgaris

Last reviewed: 1 Jan 2025
Last updated: 23 Jan 2025

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • skin lesions
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • skin tenderness
  • systemic complaints
Full details

Risk factors

  • adolescence or young adult
  • genetic predisposition
  • oily skin/increased sebum production
  • use of certain drugs
  • use of masculinizing hormone therapy
  • endocrine disorders
  • dietary factors
  • female sex
  • obesity/insulin resistance
  • halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons exposure
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • clinical diagnosis
Full details

Tests to consider

  • hormonal evaluation
  • bacterial culture
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ONGOING

mild acne: nonpregnant

moderate to severe acne or acne resistant to standard treatment: nonpregnant

pregnant

Contributors

Authors

Robert P. Dellavalle, MD, PhD, MSPH

Professor of Dermatology and Public Health

University of Minnesota Dermatology Department

National Dermatology Program Director

US Department of Veterans Affairs

Minneapolis

MN

Disclosures

RPD has received editorial stipends (Journal of Medical Internet Research Dermatology (JMIR Dermatology)), royalties (UpToDate), and expenses reimbursement (Cochrane). RPD is an editor-in-chief of JMIR Dermatology, a joint coordinating editor for Cochrane Skin, a dermatology section editor for UpToDate, a social media editor for JAAD, and a coordinating editor representative on the Cochrane Council. He is a Cochrane Council Co-Chair, and serves as the National Dermatology Program Director for the US Department of Veteran Affairs.

Torunn E. Sivesind, MD

Dermatology Resident Physician

University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine

Aurora

CO

Disclosures

TES previously received fellowship funding from Pfizer and the National Institute of Health; TES previously served as an editorial board member-at-large for the Journal of Medical Internet Research Dermatology.

Acknowledgements

Professor Dellavalle and Dr Sivesind would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Madeline Adelman, Dr Romerio Rodriguez, Dr Sarah Shangraw, Dr Mark Naftanel, Dr Yolanda Rosi Helfrich, and Dr Amanda Howland, previous contributors to this topic. The authors would like to thank Dr John Barbieri for his review of the topic. JB has received consulting fees from Dexcel Pharma.

Disclosures

SS, MN, YRH, and AH declare that they have no competing interests. MA has received fellowship funding from the Pfizer Global Medical Grant, RR receives fellowship funding from the National Institute of Health.

Peer reviewers

Gina Taylor, MD

Resident

Department of Dermatology

SUNY Downstate Medical Center

New York

NY

Disclosures

GT declares that she has no competing interests.

Gillian Murphy, MD, FRCPI, FRCP, Edin

Consultant Dermatologist

Dermatology

Beaumont Hospital

Dublin

Ireland

Disclosures

Not disclosed.

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