II. Epidemiology
- Prevalence: 75% of teenagers and young adults
- Acne Vulgaris may persist in some 30-40 year olds
III. Pathophysiology
- See Acne Vulgaris Pathophysiology
- See secondary acne causes below
IV. Risk Factors: Exacerbating Factors
V. Signs: Lesion Types
- Obstructive Acne (Papules and Pustules)
- Closed Comedones (White heads)
- Papules resulting from sebum and keratin accumulation within the Hair Follicle
- Open Comedones (Black heads)
- Closed comedones distend with trapped sebum and keratin and ultimately open
- Exposed lipids oxidize and Melanin is deposited
- Closed Comedones (White heads)
- Inflammatory Acne resulting from Hair Follicle rupture (in order of lesion formation)
VI. Signs: Distribution
- Face
- Neck
- Chest
- Upper Back
VII. Types: Severe subtypes
- Consider in refractory cases
- Referral usually indicated
- Conditions
- Gram NegativeFolliculitis
- Severe, inflammatory acne
- Onset months after starting oral Antibiotics
- Acne Fulminans
- Rapidly progressive, severe inflammatory acne
- Associated findings
- Fever
- Arthralgia
- Bone diathesis
- Acne conglobata
- Severe Cystic Acne
- Associated with dissecting scalp Cellulitis
- Associated with Hydradenitis suppurativa
- Aggressive treatment required
- Pyoderma faciale
- Rapidly progressive facial Cystic Acne (esp cheeks)
- May be a variant of Acne Rosacea
- Affects adult women
- Gram NegativeFolliculitis
VIII. Differential Diagnosis: Dermatologic Conditions
- See Medication Causes of Acne Vulgaris
- Acne Rosacea
- Hidradenitis Suppurativa
- Miliaria
- Perioral Dermatitis
- Pseudofolliculitis Barbae
- Seborrheic Dermatitis
- Superficial Folliculitis
- Acne Cosmetica
- Oil-based hair products and cosmetics plug Hair Follicles and result in Acne Vulgaris
IX. Differential Diagnosis: Systemic Conditions (secondary acne)
X. Management
XI. Resources: Patient Education
- Information from your Family Doctor: Acne in Teens
XII. References
- Habif (2004) Dermatology, Mosby, p. 162-94
- Parker in Noble (2001) Primary Care p. 758-60
- Gollnick (2003) J Am Acad Dermatol 49:S1-37 [PubMed]
- Oge (2019) Am Fam Physician 100(8): 475-84 [PubMed]
Images: Related links to external sites (from Bing)
Related Studies
| Definition (MSH) | A chronic disorder of the pilosebaceous apparatus associated with an increase in sebum secretion. It is characterized by open comedones (blackheads), closed comedones (whiteheads), and pustular nodules. The cause is unknown, but heredity and age are predisposing factors. |
| Concepts | Disease or Syndrome (T047) |
| MSH | D000152 |
| ICD10 | L70.0 |
| SnomedCT | 267867008, 156419001, 201214004, 88616000 |
| English | Acne Vulgaris, Acne, acne vulgaris (diagnosis), acne vulgaris, Acne Vulgaris [Disease/Finding], acne, Acne;vulgaris, Vulgaris - acne, Acne vulgaris, Common acne, Acne vulgaris (disorder), acne; vulgaris, vulgaris; acne, Acne, vulgaris |
| Dutch | gewone acne, acne; vulgaris, vulgaris; acne, Acne, Acne vulgaris |
| French | Acné simple, Acné vulgaire, Acné |
| Italian | Acne vulgaris, Acne, Acne volgare |
| Portuguese | Acne vulgar, Acne, Acne Vulgar |
| Spanish | Acné vulgaris, acné común, acné vulgar (trastorno), acné vulgar, Acné, Acné Vulgar |
| Swedish | Finnar |
| Japanese | ｼﾞﾝｼﾞｮｳｾｲｻﾞｿｳ, アクネ, 尋常性ざ瘡, ざ瘡, にきび |
| Czech | akné, acne vulgaris, Acne vulgaris, trudovina, trudovitost, akne vulgaris |
| Finnish | Finnitauti |
| Russian | UGRI OBYKNOVENNYE, AKNE OBYKNOVENNYE, AKNE, АКНЕ, АКНЕ ОБЫКНОВЕННЫЕ, УГРИ ОБЫКНОВЕННЫЕ |
| German | Acne vulgaris, Akne vulgaris, Akne |
| Korean | 보통 여드름 |
| Croatian | ACNE VULGARIS |
| Polish | Trądzik, Trądzik pospolity |
| Hungarian | Acne vulgaris |
| Norwegian | Acne vulgaris, Akne, Kviser |
