From the Guidelines
Acne vulgaris is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease of the pilosebaceous unit, primarily presenting with open or closed comedones, papules, pustules, or nodules on the face or trunk. According to the guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in 2024 1, acne is characterized by its chronic and inflammatory nature, affecting the pilosebaceous unit. The condition may result in pain, erythema, hyperpigmentation, or scars.
Key features of acne include:
- Open or closed comedones
- Papules
- Pustules
- Nodules These lesions typically appear on the face or trunk, and may lead to significant emotional distress and permanent scarring if left untreated or not managed properly. The definition of acne provided by the 2024 guidelines 1 emphasizes its impact on the skin and potential consequences if not addressed.
Factors that contribute to the development of acne are not explicitly stated in the provided evidence, but the definition highlights the importance of understanding acne as a chronic and inflammatory condition. The guidelines published in 2024 1 provide a foundation for understanding the nature of acne and its presentation, which is essential for effective management and treatment.
From the FDA Drug Label
Tretinoin Cream and Tretinoin Gel are used for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris. Tretinoin is indicated for topical application in the treatment of acne vulgaris. The description of acne is acne vulgaris.
- Acne vulgaris is the type of acne being treated by tretinoin cream and gel, as stated in the drug labels 2 and 2. The drug label does not provide a detailed description of acne.
From the Research
Description of Acne
- Acne vulgaris is an inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit of the skin that primarily involves the face and trunk and affects approximately 9% of the population worldwide 3.
- It can cause permanent physical scarring, negatively affect quality of life and self-image, and has been associated with increased rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation 3.
- Acne vulgaris is classified based on patient age, lesion morphology (comedonal, inflammatory, mixed, nodulocystic), distribution (location on face, trunk, or both), and severity (extent, presence or absence of scarring, postinflammatory erythema, or hyperpigmentation) 3.
Prevalence of Acne
- Acne vulgaris affects approximately 50 million people per year in the United States, mostly adolescents and young adults 4.
- It affects over 80% of teenagers, and persists beyond the age of 25 years in 3% of men and 12% of women 5.
- Approximately 85% of individuals aged 12-24 years and approximately 50% of patients aged 20-29 years are affected by acne vulgaris 3.
Clinical Characteristics of Acne
- Typical acne lesions involve the pilosebaceous follicles and the interrelated processes of sebum production, Cutibacterium acnes colonization, and inflammation 4.
- Clinically, acne is characterized by a combination of open and closed comedones (noninflammatory lesions) and inflammatory papules and pustules 6.
- Comedonal acne is more typical in young adolescents, but can occur in combination with inflammatory papules and pustules at any time 6.