This study demonstrated a small proportion of subjects had
recent HCP visits for acne treatment and self-treatment was
predominantly utilized. As expected, those with prior HCP
interaction were more likely to be current acne medication
users. Among medication users with previous HCP interaction,
most subjects treated acne with OTC rather than Rx
medications. Evidence supports that many acne sufferers seek treatment from both Rx and OTC medications. However,
OTC medication use is on the rise due to convenience,
lower cost, and difficulty of obtaining a dermatologist appointment.
Despite these advantages, efficacy of many OTC
medications are not well-supported by clinical studies, with a
considerable absence of double/investigator-blind, randomized,
vehicle-controlled studies.14
