Pharmacy Update Evidence Based Update on the Management of Acne

Correspondence to: Jane Ravenscroft, Department of Dermatology, Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; jane. [email protected] _________________________ A cne is an extremely common condition, affecting up to 80% of adolescents. Many cases are mild and may be considered ‘‘physiological’’, but others can be very severe and lead to permanent scarring. Paediatricians will frequently encounter acne in their practice, and have an important role in identifying and advising patients who require treatment. This review focuses on the practical management of acne from a paediatric perspective, with an emphasis on relating treatment decisions to currently available evidence. Many clinical trials of acne treatment have been carried out in the last 25 years, but they are of variable quality. Hence, there are grey areas, where treatment has to be guided by consensus opinion or clinical experience until better evidence is available.