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Introduction

CHAPTER 51 Acne

Stephanie Mlacker Golsa Shafa Adam S. Aldahan Keyvan Nouri

SUMMARY

Acne is a common problem, and concerns regarding topical antibiotic usage,

coupled with an increase in antibiotic resistance, have made surgical and procedural approaches to acne more attractive.

Surgical approaches may address primary acne lesions or post-acne scarring.

Beginner Tips

Inflammatory acne may be treated with chemical peels or laser and light-based

approaches.

Intralesional triamcinolone may be used in very low concentrations on a very

occasional basis for select inflammatory papules and nodules, but its use is limited by the side-effect profile.

Expert Tips

Intralesional corticosteroids may be injected directly through the top of inflammatory

acne lesions.

Ablative fractional laser resurfacing may be useful for acne scarring, and provides

much of the benefit of ablative laser therapy with minimal risk of dyspigmentation or scarring.

Donโ€™t Forget!

Many acne patients are of child-bearing potential; intralesional injections, chemical

peels, and most other invasive treatments should probably be avoided in patients who may be pregnant.

Pitfalls and Cautions

Aggressive use of intralesional corticosteroids may cause significant atrophy and

telangiectasias.

Patient education regarding postprocedure sun protection for PDT is critical.

Patient Education Points

Patient expectations should be carefully managed, as an understanding of the expected

degree of improvement will help mitigate the risk of disappointment and frustration.

Acne is a chronic condition, and no treatment will lead to definitive cure; explaining

this to patients may help control expectations.

Billing Pearls

With the exception of intralesional injections, most surgical and procedural treatments

for acne are not covered by insurance in the United States.

Since many treatments require multiple visits, offering patients a discounted rate for

multiple treatment packages may encourage compliance.

CHAPTER 51 Acne

INTRODUCTION

Acne is a multifactorial disease, caused by increased sebaceous gland activity, follicular hyperkeratinization, changes in immunological response, and obstruction of the infundibulum.1 Retinoids or antibiotics are typically considered first-line treatment options, and work by exerting anti-inflammatory effects and attacking Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes). However, the numerous side effects and growing antibiotic resistance associated with these approaches, coupled with a small but important subset of patients who fail to respond, highlight the need for procedural therapies.2

Despite the advent of light and heat therapies, comedone extraction and intralesional injection remain in vogue, due in part to their significant efficacy. Recently however, techniques such as photodynamic therapy (PDT) have increased in popularity due to both their efficacy and safety profile.