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Isotretinoin is key in treating acne vulgaris

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Abstract

Acne vulgaris affects more than 80% of teenagers, sometimes persisting into adulthood. It may cause physical scarring as well as depression and anxiety. Isotretinoin is the most effective treatment for severe acne. However, it is teratogenic and pregnancy must be prevented. Causal links with other reported adverse events, such as depression, are not established, despite extensive investigations. Monitoring of depressed patients’ mental state, rather than withholding isotretinoin, is the recommended approach.

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    Caroline Fenton & Connie Kang

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  1. Caroline Fenton
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  2. Connie Kang
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Correspondence to Connie Kang.

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The preparation of this review was not supported by any external funding.

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C. Fenton and C. Kang are contracted/salaried employees of Adis International Ltd/Springer Nature, and declare no relevant conflicts of interest. All authors contributed to the review and are responsible for the article content.

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Fenton, C., Kang, C. Isotretinoin is key in treating acne vulgaris. Drugs Ther Perspect 37, 150–156 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40267-021-00817-2

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