Accutane® (isotretinoin) Capsules 1. BENEFITS OF ACCUTANE 1.1 Etiology and Pathology of Acne

Acne is the most common disease treated by dermatologists based upon data from the 1996 U.S. Census. The lifetime prevalence of acne approaches 90%. Acne vulgaris is a chronic disease with the highest prevalence in adolescents. The onset of acne vulgaris occurs during the onset of puberty, which is at a younger chronological age in females than in males. Both females and males have acne that extends into adulthood, with females often having a higher prevalence of the disease as well as more severe forms during adulthood. When untreated, acne usually lasts for several years until it spontaneously remits [Strauss and Thiboutot, 1999]. Most cases continue into the mid-twenties, and there is evidence that the duration of acne may last into middle age for most women [Goulden et al., 1999].