{
  "schemaVersion": 2,
  "eyebrow": "Dermatology",
  "title": "Acne Vulgaris",
  "summary": "Treat acne by lesion phenotype, anatomic extent, scarring risk, and treatment response. Combine mechanistically distinct topical agents, avoid antibiotic monotherapy, use brief systemic antibiotic courses when needed, and move promptly to isotretinoin for severe, scar-forming, psychosocially burdensome, or treatment-refractory disease.",
  "seoDescription": "Physician guide to acne vulgaris treatment: phenotype-based topical therapy, antibiotic stewardship, hormonal options, isotretinoin escalation, and scarring prevention.",
  "clinicalQuestion": "How should physicians select and escalate acne therapy while minimizing antibiotic exposure and preventing scarring?",
  "specialty": "Dermatology",
  "audience": "U.S. physicians and medical trainees",
  "tags": [
    "acne vulgaris",
    "topical retinoid",
    "benzoyl peroxide",
    "oral doxycycline",
    "isotretinoin",
    "spironolactone",
    "acne scarring",
    "antibiotic stewardship"
  ],
  "keyTakeaways": [
    "Use a topical retinoid and benzoyl peroxide as core therapies; combine agents with different mechanisms rather than relying on single-agent treatment. [7][17]",
    "Never use topical or systemic antibiotics alone; pair them with benzoyl peroxide and limit oral antibiotic exposure. [11][17]",
    "Escalate directly to oral isotretinoin for severe acne, acne causing scarring or major psychosocial burden, or acne that fails standard topical or oral treatment. [7][17]",
    "Evaluate patients with acne plus hirsutism, virilization, menstrual concerns, or insulin-resistance findings for clinically meaningful androgen excess rather than treating acne in isolation. [13][22]",
    "For a large, painful inflammatory nodule, intralesional corticosteroid injection is an option for more rapid relief while systemic disease-directed therapy is optimized. [7][17]"
  ],
  "sections": [
    {
      "id": "triage-and-phenotype",
      "eyebrow": "Initial assessment",
      "heading": "Classify disease by lesion type, extent, and irreversible-harm risk",
      "intro": "Document baseline lesions and identify patients who should bypass stepwise topical escalation.",
      "paragraphs": [
        "At the initial visit, record inflammatory lesions (papules, pustules, nodules), noninflammatory lesions (open and closed comedones), involved sites, prior treatment response, and psychosocial impact. A practical global framework defines mild disease as predominantly comedonal with few inflammatory lesions, moderate disease as many comedonal and inflammatory lesions, and severe disease as substantial inflammatory disease with papules and pustules predominant and possible nodulocystic lesions. [2][5][6]",
        "Treat palpable nodules as an escalation signal rather than simply a higher lesion count. In FDA acne-study definitions, a nodule is a deep palpable solid lesion greater than 0.5 cm; nodular or cystic disease is at heightened risk for scarring and warrants prompt consideration of isotretinoin rather than repeated topical or antibiotic cycles. [6][7][17]",
        "Ask specifically about treatment-related irritation, product use, adherence, menstrual association, medication exposures, fever, myalgia, arthralgia, and psychological effect. History should also capture virilization features, including hirsutism, androgen-pattern hair loss, deepening voice, or genital enlargement, because these findings redirect the visit toward evaluation of androgen excess. [22]"
      ],
      "bullets": [
        "Use photographs or a consistent lesion-count/global assessment method at baseline and follow-up; acne trials commonly assess response at 12 weeks, making this a practical interval for judging topical effectiveness. [1][4][6]",
        "Include face, chest, and back in the examination; truncal involvement increases treatment burden and may alter topical vehicle selection. [13][19]",
        "Expedite dermatology-directed escalation when scarring, severe nodules, or substantial psychosocial burden is present. [7][17]"
      ],
      "subsections": [],
      "table": {
        "caption": "Clinical severity features that change the initial treatment pathway. [2][5][6][7]",
        "columns": [
          "Presentation",
          "Actionable interpretation",
          "Initial management consequence"
        ],
        "rows": [
          [
            "Predominantly open and closed comedones with few papules or pustules",
            "Mild, comedonal-predominant acne. [2][5]",
            "Use a topical retinoid-centered regimen; add benzoyl peroxide when inflammatory lesions are present. [7][17]"
          ],
          [
            "Many comedones plus papules and pustules without meaningful nodulocystic disease",
            "Moderate mixed acne. [2][5][6]",
            "Use combination topical therapy; add oral doxycycline when inflammatory burden warrants systemic treatment. [7]"
          ],
          [
            "Numerous inflammatory lesions, nodules, cysts, scarring, or major psychosocial burden",
            "Severe or high-consequence acne. [2][6][7]",
            "Consider oral isotretinoin promptly; inject an isolated large painful lesion if rapid inflammatory relief is needed. [7][17]"
          ],
          [
            "Acne with hirsutism, alopecia, menstrual concerns, virilization, acanthosis nigricans, obesity, or hypertension",
            "Possible androgen excess or insulin resistance. [13][22]",
            "Perform focused endocrine and reproductive assessment rather than escalating acne treatment alone. [13][22]"
          ]
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "topical-treatment",
      "eyebrow": "First-line treatment",
      "heading": "Build topical regimens around retinoid and benzoyl peroxide therapy",
      "intro": "Use combination treatment when lesion phenotype or severity exceeds a limited comedonal presentation.",
      "paragraphs": [
        "Topical retinoids and benzoyl peroxide receive strong guideline recommendations and are appropriate foundational therapies for acne management. Topical antibiotics also have a strong recommendation, but should be deployed only within a combination regimen rather than as standalone therapy. [7][17]",
        "For comedonal-predominant disease, select a topical retinoid as the central agent and reassess clinical response at approximately 12 weeks. FDA study programs for adapalene, tretinoin, and tazarotene evaluate treatment response at day 84, and retinoid-associated sun-exposure precautions include sunscreen and protective clothing when sun avoidance is not feasible. [1][4][5]",
        "For mixed inflammatory and comedonal acne, combine a topical retinoid with benzoyl peroxide and consider adding a topical antibiotic when the inflammatory component warrants it. This approach addresses multiple acne pathways while avoiding topical-antibiotic monotherapy, which promotes bacterial resistance. [7][11][17]",
        "Conditional topical alternatives include clascoterone, azelaic acid, and salicylic acid. These are reasonable additions or substitutions when tolerability, patient preference, contraindications, or phenotype makes a standard retinoid-benzoyl peroxide regimen unsuitable, but the guideline strength is lower than for benzoyl peroxide and topical retinoids. [7]"
      ],
      "bullets": [
        "Apply topical treatment to the acne-prone treatment area rather than individual visible lesions; clinical studies used a thin coating over the face. [6]",
        "If irritation limits retinoid use, reassess the vehicle, application pattern, and concurrent products before declaring therapeutic failure.",
        "Avoid combining a topical antibiotic with no benzoyl peroxide component. [11][17]"
      ],
      "subsections": [],
      "table": {
        "caption": "Topical selection by dominant lesion pattern and treatment objective. [7][11][17]",
        "columns": [
          "Clinical target",
          "Preferred topical strategy",
          "Key restriction or escalation point"
        ],
        "rows": [
          [
            "Comedones",
            "Topical retinoid-centered therapy. [7]",
            "Reassess at about 12 weeks; persistent inflammatory disease requires combination therapy. [1][4][5]"
          ],
          [
            "Papules and pustules with comedones",
            "Topical retinoid plus benzoyl peroxide; add topical antibiotic only in combination. [7][17]",
            "Do not prescribe topical antibiotic monotherapy. [11]"
          ],
          [
            "Need for a nonretinoid adjunct or alternative",
            "Consider clascoterone, azelaic acid, or salicylic acid. [7]",
            "These carry conditional, rather than strong, recommendations. [7]"
          ],
          [
            "Persistent inflammatory acne despite optimized topical therapy",
            "Add a systemic agent rather than extending ineffective topical-only management. [7]",
            "Pair any oral antibiotic with topical therapy and benzoyl peroxide. [7][17]"
          ]
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "systemic-treatment",
      "eyebrow": "Escalation",
      "heading": "Use oral antibiotics briefly and reserve isotretinoin for high-consequence disease",
      "intro": "Systemic therapy is indicated by inflammatory severity, scarring risk, burden, and inadequate response to topical treatment.",
      "paragraphs": [
        "Oral doxycycline is strongly recommended for acne requiring systemic antibiotic therapy. Oral minocycline and sarecycline are conditionally recommended alternatives. Combine systemic antibiotics with topical therapies, including benzoyl peroxide, and limit their duration to reduce resistance and antibiotic-associated complications. [7][17]",
        "Do not use systemic antibiotic monotherapy. A benzoyl peroxide-containing topical regimen should remain in place during oral antibiotic treatment to reduce resistance selection; when the oral antibiotic is stopped, continue nonantibiotic topical therapy for disease control. [11][17]",
        "Oral isotretinoin is strongly recommended for severe acne, acne producing scarring or psychosocial burden, and acne that has failed standard oral or topical therapy. These indications justify referral or treatment planning before serial antibiotic courses create further delay in a patient with active scarring disease. [7][17]",
        "For an individual large inflammatory lesion causing pain or at risk of persistent inflammation, intralesional corticosteroid injection is a guideline-endorsed adjunct for more rapid relief. It treats the focal lesion but does not replace systemic treatment for generalized nodular acne. [7][17]"
      ],
      "bullets": [
        "Choose doxycycline when oral antibiotic treatment is needed and no patient-specific contraindication redirects selection. [7]",
        "Use minocycline or sarecycline as conditional alternatives rather than assuming class interchangeability. [7]",
        "Reassess every patient receiving an oral antibiotic for discontinuation and transition to nonantibiotic maintenance therapy. [7][15][17]",
        "Move to isotretinoin when scarring, psychosocial burden, severe disease, or failure of standard therapy is documented. [7][17]"
      ],
      "subsections": [
        {
          "heading": "Hormonal therapy in patients with an androgen-responsive pattern",
          "paragraphs": [
            "Combined oral contraceptive pills and spironolactone are conditionally recommended systemic options. Consider them in patients for whom hormonal treatment is clinically appropriate, particularly when acne is associated with menstrual flares or other features that raise concern for androgen contribution. [7][13][22]",
            "Before attributing acne to a routine hormonal pattern, assess for hirsutism, androgen-pattern alopecia, virilization, menstrual history, body mass index, blood pressure, and insulin-resistance findings such as acanthosis nigricans or skin tags. A modified Ferriman-Gallwey score greater than 8 supports hirsutism and should prompt focused evaluation for hyperandrogenism. [13]"
          ],
          "bullets": [
            "Virilization features require evaluation beyond acne-directed therapy. [22]",
            "Acne alone is common, but acne plus hirsutism or menstrual abnormalities changes the diagnostic pathway. [13][22]"
          ]
        }
      ],
      "table": {
        "caption": "Systemic treatment decisions for acne vulgaris. [7][11][17]",
        "columns": [
          "Clinical situation",
          "Treatment choice",
          "Stewardship or escalation rule"
        ],
        "rows": [
          [
            "Moderate inflammatory acne inadequately controlled with topical combination therapy",
            "Oral doxycycline with topical therapy and benzoyl peroxide. [7][17]",
            "Do not use oral antibiotic monotherapy; minimize duration. [11][17]"
          ],
          [
            "Need for an oral tetracycline alternative",
            "Consider oral minocycline or sarecycline. [7]",
            "These are conditional recommendations. [7]"
          ],
          [
            "Clinically appropriate hormonal treatment candidate",
            "Consider combined oral contraceptive pills or spironolactone. [7]",
            "Assess for androgen-excess features rather than presuming uncomplicated acne. [13][22]"
          ],
          [
            "Severe, scar-forming, psychosocially burdensome, or treatment-refractory acne",
            "Oral isotretinoin. [7][17]",
            "Do not defer escalation through repeated standard-treatment failures. [7][17]"
          ],
          [
            "Large painful inflammatory nodule",
            "Intralesional corticosteroid injection as an adjunct. [7][17]",
            "Continue disease-directed therapy for generalized acne. [7][17]"
          ]
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "monitoring-and-reassessment",
      "eyebrow": "Follow-up",
      "heading": "Define treatment failure before changing therapy",
      "intro": "A regimen can only be judged after correct application, tolerability review, and an adequate assessment interval.",
      "paragraphs": [
        "At follow-up, compare lesion counts, global severity, new nodules, truncal involvement, scarring progression, adverse effects, and patient-reported psychosocial burden against baseline. FDA acne trials commonly use lesion counts and investigator global assessments at 12 weeks, but global ratings can vary between investigators; serial use of the same method is more informative than switching scales. [1][2][4][6]",
        "Interpret persistent disease in context. New nodules, scar formation, or worsening psychosocial burden should trigger escalation even if the total lesion count falls. In contrast, irritation, inconsistent use, or unrecognized overlapping topical products should be corrected before labeling a retinoid- or benzoyl peroxide-based regimen ineffective.",
        "After stopping an oral antibiotic, maintain disease control with nonantibiotic topical therapy. Maintenance evidence has been evaluated in randomized trials, and guideline practice emphasizes combination topical therapies and limited systemic antibiotic exposure rather than chronic antibiotic treatment. [7][17][23]"
      ],
      "bullets": [
        "At each visit, document whether antibiotics remain necessary; continued use requires a clear inflammatory indication and concurrent benzoyl peroxide. [11][17]",
        "Escalate promptly for active scarring or severe nodular disease rather than using lesion-count improvement alone to justify continued low-intensity therapy. [7][17]",
        "Reassess endocrine clues when acne remains treatment resistant and is accompanied by hirsutism, menstrual concerns, virilization, or insulin-resistance findings. [13][22]"
      ],
      "subsections": [],
      "table": {
        "caption": "Follow-up findings and the next management step. [7][11][13][17][22]",
        "columns": [
          "Follow-up finding",
          "Interpretation",
          "Next action"
        ],
        "rows": [
          [
            "Improved lesions without new nodules or scars",
            "Current regimen is providing disease control.",
            "Continue nonantibiotic topical maintenance strategy. [7][17]"
          ],
          [
            "Persistent papules and pustules after an adequate topical trial",
            "Inflammatory burden remains undertreated.",
            "Optimize combination topical therapy or add doxycycline with benzoyl peroxide when systemic treatment is indicated. [7][17]"
          ],
          [
            "New nodules, scars, or major psychosocial burden",
            "High-consequence acne despite current management.",
            "Plan isotretinoin treatment or dermatology escalation. [7][17]"
          ],
          [
            "Acne plus hirsutism, virilization, menstrual abnormalities, or acanthosis nigricans",
            "Possible hyperandrogenism or insulin resistance.",
            "Perform focused endocrine and reproductive assessment. [13][22]"
          ]
        ]
      }
    }
  ],
  "faq": [],
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  "citations": [
    {
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      "detail": "www.accessdata.fda.gov",
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      "authors": "www.accessdata.fda.gov",
      "host": "www.accessdata.fda.gov",
      "snippet": "a clinical diagnosis of acne vulgaris. b. On the face, ≥ 25 non-inflammatory lesions (i.e., open and closed comedones) AND ≥ 20 inflammatory lesions (i.e., papules and pustules) AND ≤ 2 nodulocystic lesions (i.e., nodules and cysts). c. Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA) of acne severity Grade 2",
      "score": 0.6208291
    },
    {
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      "url": "https://www.fda.gov/media/104718/download",
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      "host": "www.fda.gov",
      "snippet": "Weeks 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12. Table 3: Global Acne Assessment Score (GAAS) Grade Description 0 None No evidence of facial acne vulgaris 1 Minimal Few non-inflammatory lesions (comedones) are present; a few inflammatory lesions (papules/pustules) may be present 2 Mild Several to many non-inflammatory les",
      "score": 0.5010992
    },
    {
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      "authors": "www.accessdata.fda.gov",
      "host": "www.accessdata.fda.gov",
      "snippet": "papules and pustules) AND ≤ 2 nodulocystic lesions (i.e., nodules and cysts) c. Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA) of acne severity Grade 2, 3, or 4 (per Table 1) Table 1. Sample IGA Scale for Acne Vulgaris1 Grade Description 0 Clear skin with no inflammatory or noninflammatory lesions 1 Almost ",
      "score": 0.49392182
    },
    {
      "number": 4,
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      "detail": "www.accessdata.fda.gov",
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      "authors": "www.accessdata.fda.gov",
      "host": "www.accessdata.fda.gov",
      "snippet": "Revised Nov 2018, Nov 2019 3 Table 1. Sample IGA Scale for Acne Vulgaris1 Grade Description 0 Clear skin with no inflammatory or noninflammatory lesions 1 Almost clear; rare noninflammatory lesions with no more than one small inflammatory lesion 2 Mild severity; greater than Grade 1; some noninflamm",
      "score": 0.46162403
    },
    {
      "number": 5,
      "title": "[PDF] Adapalene Topical Lotion - accessdata.fda.gov",
      "detail": "www.accessdata.fda.gov",
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      "authors": "www.accessdata.fda.gov",
      "host": "www.accessdata.fda.gov",
      "snippet": "Recommended Feb 2011; Revised Dec 2014, Nov 2018, Nov 2019 3 Table 1. Sample IGA Scale for Acne Vulgaris1 Grade Description 0 Clear skin with no inflammatory or noninflammatory lesions 1 Almost clear; rare noninflammatory lesions with no more than one small inflammatory lesion 2 Mild severity; great",
      "score": 0.4450718
    },
    {
      "number": 6,
      "title": "[PDF] clinical review - FDA",
      "detail": "www.fda.gov",
      "url": "https://www.fda.gov/media/71545/download",
      "authors": "www.fda.gov",
      "host": "www.fda.gov",
      "snippet": "were collected at each visit and/or upon discontinuation. Inflammatory lesions are defined as follows: Papule – a solid, elevated lesion less than .5cm Pustule – an elevated lesion containing pus less than .5cm Nodule – palpable solid lesion greater than .5 cm; has depth, not necessarily elevated No",
      "score": 0.39194164
    },
    {
      "number": 7,
      "title": "Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris - ScienceDirect",
      "detail": "www.sciencedirect.com",
      "url": "http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190962223033893",
      "authors": "www.sciencedirect.com",
      "host": "www.sciencedirect.com",
      "snippet": "Title: Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris - ScienceDirect\n## Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Volume 90, Issue 5, May 2024, Pages 1006.e1-1006.e30. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. # From the academy Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulg",
      "score": 0.73981786
    },
    {
      "number": 8,
      "title": "Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris",
      "detail": "www.sciencedirect.com",
      "url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190962223033893",
      "authors": "www.sciencedirect.com",
      "host": "www.sciencedirect.com",
      "snippet": "### Limitations\n\nAnalysis is based on the best available evidence at the time of the systematic review.\n\n### Conclusions\n\nThese guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations for the management of acne vulgaris.\n\n## Key words\n\nAcne\n\n; \n\nacne vulgaris\n\n; \n\nadapalene\n\n; \n\nantiandrogens\n\n; \n\nantibio",
      "score": 0.7099254
    },
    {
      "number": 9,
      "title": "Guidelines of care for acne vulgaris - ScienceDirect",
      "detail": "www.sciencedirect.com",
      "url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0190962208810456",
      "authors": "www.sciencedirect.com",
      "host": "www.sciencedirect.com",
      "snippet": "Title: Guidelines of care for acne vulgaris - ScienceDirect\n## Article preview. ## Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. # Academy guideline Guidelines of care for acne vulgaris\\*\\*,\\*. ## Access through your organization. Check access to the",
      "score": 0.6307082
    },
    {
      "number": 10,
      "title": "Steroid Injection Treatment for Nodulocystic Acne: A Literature Review - Lee - 2025 - Dermatological Reviews - Wiley Online Library",
      "detail": "onlinelibrary.wiley.com",
      "url": "https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/der2.70021",
      "authors": "onlinelibrary.wiley.com",
      "host": "onlinelibrary.wiley.com",
      "snippet": "M. Levine, “Intralesional Corticosteroids in the Treatment of Nodulocystic Acne,” *Archives of Dermatology* 119, no. Piquero-Martin, “Update and Future of Systemic Acne Treatment,” *Dermatology* 206, no. Berson, et al., “Management of Acne,” *Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology* 49, no. R",
      "score": 0.60694176
    },
    {
      "number": 11,
      "title": "Analyzing trends in treatment of acne vulgaris and adherence to the American Academy of Dermatology guidelines: A retrospective study",
      "detail": "www.sciencedirect.com",
      "url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666328722001183",
      "authors": "www.sciencedirect.com",
      "host": "www.sciencedirect.com",
      "snippet": "Title: Analyzing trends in treatment of acne vulgaris and adherence to the American Academy of Dermatology guidelines: A retrospective study\n# Analyzing trends in treatment of acne vulgaris and adherence to the American Academy of Dermatology guidelines: A retrospective study - ScienceDirect. Analyz",
      "score": 0.59880555
    },
    {
      "number": 12,
      "title": "An overview of treatment options for mild‐to‐moderate acne based on American Academy of Dermatology, European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, and Italian Society of Dermatology and Venereology guidelines - Conforti - 2020 - Dermatologic Therapy - Wiley Online Library",
      "detail": "onlinelibrary.wiley.com",
      "url": "https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dth.13548",
      "authors": "onlinelibrary.wiley.com",
      "host": "onlinelibrary.wiley.com",
      "snippet": "# An overview of treatment options for mild-to-moderate acne based on American Academy of Dermatology, European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, and Italian Society of Dermatology and Venereology guidelines. Herein we describe and discuss the common and alternative treatment options used for ",
      "score": 0.57894874
    },
    {
      "number": 13,
      "title": "Screening and Management of the Hyperandrogenic... : Obstetrics & Gynecology",
      "detail": "journals.lww.com",
      "url": "https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/fulltext/10.1097/aog.0000000000003475~screening-and-management-of-the-hyperandrogenic-adolescent",
      "authors": "journals.lww.com",
      "host": "journals.lww.com",
      "snippet": "On physical examination, body mass index, blood pressure, and signs of hyperandrogenism, such as acne and hirsutism, should be evaluated. It also is useful to assess for signs of insulin resistance, such as hypertension, obesity, centripetal fat distribution, skin tags, and acanthosis nigricans. Exa",
      "score": 0.30340198
    },
    {
      "number": 14,
      "title": "Epidemiological patterns of acne vulgaris among... - Ovid",
      "detail": "journals.lww.com",
      "url": "https://journals.lww.com/ijpd/fulltext/2017/18030/epidemiological_patterns_of_acne_vulgaris_among.8.aspx",
      "authors": "journals.lww.com",
      "host": "journals.lww.com",
      "snippet": "Almost all the lesions were in the form of papules (99.6% [744]), followed by pustules (12% [91]), nodules (9.5% [71]), and cysts (0.5% [4]).",
      "score": 0.23501225
    },
    {
      "number": 15,
      "title": "Managing acne vulgaris: an update - PMC",
      "detail": "pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov",
      "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10803966",
      "authors": "pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov",
      "host": "pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov",
      "snippet": "12. Corcoran L , Muller I , Layton AM , _et al._. Systematic review of clinical practice guidelines for Acne Vulgaris published between January 2017 and July 2021. _Skin Health Dis_ 2023;3:e240. doi: 10.1002/ski2.240  [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]\n   13. Ghodsi SZ , Orawa H , Zo",
      "score": 0.75312227
    },
    {
      "number": 16,
      "title": "Recent Trends in the Management of Acne Vulgaris: A Review ...",
      "detail": "pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov",
      "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11031619",
      "authors": "pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov",
      "host": "pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov",
      "snippet": "Clinical practice guidelines and research studies are invaluable resources for healthcare professionals in managing acne vulgaris, offering evidence-based insights to optimize patient care. These guidelines stress the importance of evidence-based recommendations for acne treatment, advocating for be",
      "score": 0.741169
    },
    {
      "number": 17,
      "title": "American Academy of Dermatology issues updated guidelines for ...",
      "detail": "www.aad.org",
      "url": "https://www.aad.org/news/updated-guidelines-acne-management",
      "authors": "www.aad.org",
      "host": "www.aad.org",
      "snippet": "“These guidelines provide important updates to the 2016 AAD acne guidelines, including discussion of new topical medications, which are directly applied to the skin, and systemic treatments, which are taken by mouth” said board-certified dermatologist John S. Barbieri, MD, MBA, FAAD, co-chair of the",
      "score": 0.62852204
    },
    {
      "number": 18,
      "title": "Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris - PubMed",
      "detail": "pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov",
      "url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38300170",
      "authors": "pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov",
      "host": "pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov",
      "snippet": "Analysis is based on the best available evidence at the time of the systematic review.\n#### Conclusions\n\nThese guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations for the management of acne vulgaris.\n\n## Full text links\n\n  \n\nRead article at publisher's site: \n\n## References\n\n  \n\nArticles referenced by",
      "score": 0.6158511
    },
    {
      "number": 19,
      "title": "Dermatology: how to manage acne vulgaris - PMC",
      "detail": "pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov",
      "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8510514",
      "authors": "pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov",
      "host": "pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov",
      "snippet": "102.Sandoval LF, Hartel JK, Feldman SR. Current and future evidence-based acne treatment: a review. _Expert Opin Pharmacother_. 2014. 15(2):173-192. doi: 10.1517/14656566.2014.860965 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]\n   103.Kolli SS, Pecone D, Pona A, Cline A, Feldman SR. Topical retinoids in acne vul",
      "score": 0.6097339
    },
    {
      "number": 20,
      "title": "Update to acne vulgaris treatment for Canadian practice - PMC",
      "detail": "pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov",
      "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12312855",
      "authors": "pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov",
      "host": "pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov",
      "snippet": "## Quality of evidence\n\nThe 2024 AAD guidelines for the management of AV were selected, as they represent the most recent, evidence-based, and internationally recognized consensus on acne management.2 As per the published guidelines, a systematic search of MEDLINE and Embase databases was conducted ",
      "score": 0.59401023
    },
    {
      "number": 21,
      "title": "Isotretinoin - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf - NIH",
      "detail": "www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov",
      "url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK525949",
      "authors": "www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov",
      "host": "www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov",
      "snippet": "32.\n:   Eichenfield LF, Krakowski AC. A novel patient support program to address isotretinoin adherence: proof-of-concept analysis. J Drugs Dermatol. 2015 Apr;14(4):375-9. [PubMed: 25844611]\n\n33.\n:   Strauss JS, Krowchuk DP, Leyden JJ, Lucky AW, Shalita AR, Siegfried EC, Thiboutot DM, Van Voorhees A",
      "score": 0.5518883
    },
    {
      "number": 22,
      "title": "Acne Vulgaris - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf",
      "detail": "www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov",
      "url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459173",
      "authors": "www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov",
      "host": "www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov",
      "snippet": "## Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes\n\nThe American Academy of Dermatology has evidence-based guidelines on the management of acne.(#article-17101.r41) Therefore, all healthcare workers, including primary care providers and nurses, who are involved in managing acne must be familiar with these guidel",
      "score": 0.5428881
    },
    {
      "number": 23,
      "title": "Maintenance treatments for acne vulgaris - NCBI Bookshelf",
      "detail": "www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov",
      "url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK592054",
      "authors": "www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov",
      "host": "www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov",
      "snippet": "| Marous, Mr.R., Flaten, H.K., Sledge, B., Rietcheck, H.R., Dellavalle, R., Suneja, T., Dunnick, C.Complementary and Alternative Methods for Treatment of Acne Vulgaris: a Systematic Review. 2018. Current Dermatology Reports | No relevant intervention - systematic review about complementary and alter",
      "score": 0.5342973
    },
    {
      "number": 24,
      "title": "Acne clinical guideline",
      "detail": "www.aad.org",
      "url": "https://www.aad.org/member/clinical-quality/guidelines/acne",
      "authors": "www.aad.org",
      "host": "www.aad.org",
      "snippet": "Explore the Academy's new and improved Learning Center, with enhanced ease of use for the education you trust.\n\n\n\nThis guideline updates the 2016 AAD acne guidelines02614-6/fulltext).\n\nView the Academy guidelines disclaimer.\n\n##### Are you a patient with acne?\n\nSee our AAD acne pages for information",
      "score": 0.493043
    }
  ],
  "publishedAt": "2026-09-15T23:11:14.028514+00:00",
  "updatedAt": "2026-09-15T23:11:14.028514+00:00",
  "readingMinutes": 5,
  "slug": "acne-vulgaris"
}