Adjunctive Therapy for Acne: Treatment recommendations based on severity (from an international consensus)

  • 2min
  • Mar. 2024
  • Supported by

MILD ACNE

  • Clinical Signs:

    • Easily recognizable: less than half of the face is affected. 
    • A few open or closed comedones and a few papules and pustules
  • Commonly Prescribed Treatments:

    • TOPICAL RETINOID or FIXED COMBINATION WITH RETINOID BPO or AZELAIC ACID / SALYCILIC ACID
  • Use of Skincare:

    • In monotherapy
    • For maintenance
MODERATE ACNE
  • Clinical Signs:

    • More than half of the face is affected. 
    • Numerous papules and pustules, numerous open or closed comedones. 
    • One nodule maybe present.
  • Commonly Prescribed Treatments:

    • FIXED COMBINATION or BPO or TOPICAL RETINOID or AZELAIC ACID
    • FIXED COMBINATION PREFERRED +/- HORMONAL THERAPY &/OR ORAL ANTIBIOTIC
  • Use of Skincare:

    • As adjunctive therapy
    • For maintenance
SEVERE ACNE
  • Clinical Signs:

    • Entire face is affected, numerous papules and pustules, open or closed comedones and rare nodules.
  • Commonly Prescribed Treatments (choose one):

    • FIXED COMBINATION + ORAL ANTIBIOTIC PREFERRED or + ORAL ISOTRETINOIN or + ORAL HORMONAL THERAPY
  • Use of Skincare:

    • As adjunctive therapy
    • For maintenance