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Acne

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Update in Cosmetic Dermatology

Abstract

Acne is a chronic inflammatory, exclusively human disease of the pilosebaceous unit, mostly affecting the sebaceous gland follicles – usually referred to as sebaceous follicles – located on the face, chest, shoulders, and back, where they are most common.

Acne is the most common disease affecting all ages and ethnic groups and is the leading dermatologic diagnosis with 10.2 million diagnoses. Acne is considered a problem that occurs in adolescence, but the prevalence of adult acne is 3 % in men and between 11 and 12 % in women.

We can distinguish different types of acne: acne neonatorum and infantile, acne vulgaris (teenage acne), adult acne, acne conglobata, acne inversa, and acne fulminans.

Diet, weight loss, sunlight, and cosmetics/drugs are differently related to acne symptoms.

The treatment of acne is based on different approaches such as cosmetological and cleansing agents, moisturizing agents, sebum regulators, keratolytics, and photoprotection to support medical treatment based on topical (retinoids, antibiotics, alpha hydroxy acids, and chemical peels) and systemic medical treatment (oral antibiotics, oral isotretinoin, hormonal therapy).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Sergio Pansini, 5 – 80132, Naples, Italy

    Gabriella Fabbrocini

  2. Department of Dermatology, “Nigrisoli” Hospital – Bologna, Viale Ercolani, 9 – 40138, Bologna, Italy

    Maria Pia De Padova

Authors
  1. Gabriella Fabbrocini
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  2. Maria Pia De Padova
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Correspondence to Gabriella Fabbrocini .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, University of Miami, Belle Meade Island Drive 881, Miami, 33138, Florida, USA

    Antonella Tosti

  2. , Clinica Hexsel de Dermatologia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio, Dr Timoteo Street 782, Porto Alegre, 90570-040, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

    Doris Hexsel

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Fabbrocini, G., De Padova, M.P. (2013). Acne. In: Tosti, A., Hexsel, D. (eds) Update in Cosmetic Dermatology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-34029-1_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-34029-1_3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-34028-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-34029-1

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