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Acne

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European Handbook of Dermatological Treatments

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Abstract

Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Key events that contribute to acne pathogenesis include hyperseborrhea, hyperkeratinization of the pilosebaceous follicle, the loss of diversity of Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) phylotypes, inflammation, and exposome (external factors such as nutrition, pollutants, lifestyle). Acneiform eruptions that may need to be differentiated from acne are: acne cosmetica, perioral dermatitis, drug-induced acneiform eruptions, and rosacea. The management of acne is based on the clinical classification depending on the predominant lesions, severity and presence of scarring, and further depends on the psychological impact of acne, the age, and medical history of the patient. Treatments are usually combinations of topical agents, such as retinoids, azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics and fixed-dose combination formulations, and/or systemic agents, such as antibiotics, zinc, isotretinoin, and for females only, hormonal therapies. Furthermore, the recommendations of the current European guidelines are discussed and therapeutic algorithms for the treatment of acne according to age group are presented.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1st Department of Dermatology, Andreas Syggros Hospital, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Clio Dessinioti

  2. Nantes Université, INSERM, CNRS, Immunology and New Concepts in ImmunoTherapy, INCIT, Nantes, France

    Brigitte Dreno

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  1. Clio Dessinioti
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  2. Brigitte Dreno
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Andreas Syggros Hospital, Athens State University, Athens, Greece

    Andreas D. Katsambas

  2. Research Center CSRMR, Marconi University, Rome, Roma, Italy

    Torello M. Lotti

  3. Andreas Syggros Hospital, Athens State University, Athens, Greece

    Clio Dessinioti

  4. Dermatoloy Unit, Livorno Hospital, Livorno, Italy

    Angelo Massimiliano D'Erme

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Dessinioti, C., Dreno, B. (2023). Acne. In: Katsambas, A.D., Lotti, T.M., Dessinioti, C., D'Erme, A.M. (eds) European Handbook of Dermatological Treatments. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-15130-9_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-15130-9_1

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