New Acne-Treatment Guidelines Favor Topical Retinoids

Washington--The Global Alliance to Improve Outcomes in Acne has issued new acne-treatment guidelines that emphasize the importance of topical retinoid agents in treating lesions and acne precursors, and caution against the overuse of oral antibiotics.

The new guidelines, developed by a team of experts following a review of acne literature, were presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition, held here in October.

Among other suggestions for acne treatment, the new guidelines state that physicians treating non-cystic acne should start therapy with a retinoid and maintain its use even if other treatments are added to the therapy. The guidelines also state that treatment of mild comedonal acne should begin with a retinal to targets microcomedo, which are microscopic precursors to blackheads and whiteheads.

The new guidelines suggest the use of oral antibiotics only for treatment of patients with moderate acne, and then only for as long as the systems persist. The guidelines note that long-term antibiotics use should be minimized.

The review team was headed by Diane Berson, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University and attending physician at New York-Presbyterian Hospital.