INTRODUCTION
Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects pilosebaceous units on the face and trunk requiring longitudinal patient management.1,2 It has a multifactorial pathophysiology that involves an altered sebaceous lipid profile, inflammation, hyperkeratinization, and a dysbiosis of the skin that leads to proliferation of the bacterial commensal Cutibacterium acnes.3,4 Clinical manifestations are varied, and include active acne with combinations of papules, pustules, comedones, nodules, and cysts, and its sequelae (which can occur in concurrence with active acne vulgaris regardless of severity) acne induced pigmentation (formerly known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation/PIH) or erythema and/or scarring.5,6 In populations with dark skin types, the pigmentary alterations can pose significant burden to patients --- sometimes causing greater distress than the primary acne lesions themselves.7 Although there is no standardized grading scale for acnea review by Tan et al indicates the majority of acne is mild (~60%) but that there is also a substantial population of patients with moderate (~30%) or severe acne (~10%).8
This publication presents consensus recommendations for the management of acne in the UAE. These recommendations are not intended as a complete review of all studies in the literature, rather a synthesis of existing evidence-based guidelines, the experience of experts in the absence of evidence, and application of known data in the UAE.
This publication presents consensus recommendations for the management of acne in the UAE. These recommendations are not intended as a complete review of all studies in the literature, rather a synthesis of existing evidence-based guidelines, the experience of experts in the absence of evidence, and application of known data in the UAE.
