Acne vulgaris: management

Context

Acne vulgaris is a common condition that can affect the face, chest and back. It is most prevalent among young people and younger adults, affecting approximately 80% of people at some time between 11 and 30 years.

When treating acne vulgaris its severity, distribution, and the views of the affected person need to be taken into account. The aim of treatment is to reduce the severity of skin lesions and to prevent recurrence and scarring.

There is variation in how acne vulgaris is treated in clinical practice, and there is therefore a need to standardise treatment. There is also a need when prescribing antibiotic therapy for acne vulgaris to take into account the principles of antimicrobial guidance and policy, as outlined in the NICE guideline on antimicrobial stewardship, as well as the World Health Organization Global action plan on antimicrobial resistance.