Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Book

Acne Vulgaris

In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan.
.
Affiliations
Free Books & Documents
Book

Acne Vulgaris

Amita H. Sutaria et al.
Free Books & Documents

Excerpt

Acne vulgaris is a common cutaneous inflammatory disorder of the pilosebaceous unit, which runs a chronic course. The condition commonly manifests with papules, pustules, or nodules primarily on the face, although it can also affect the upper arms, trunk, and back. The pathogenesis of acne vulgaris involves the interaction of multiple factors that ultimately lead to the formation of its primary lesion, which is known as "comedo" (see Image. Acne Vulgaris). Although acne vulgaris is commonly observed among adolescents, it is not restricted to this age group and can affect individuals of various ages. The severity of this condition can vary, ranging from a mild presentation with only a few comedones to more severe forms characterized by disfiguring inflammatory manifestations, which can lead to hyperpigmentation, scarring, and adverse psychological effects.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: Amita Sutaria declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Sadia Masood declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Haitham Saleh declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Joel Schlessinger declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

References

    1. Yan HM, Zhao HJ, Guo DY, Zhu PQ, Zhang CL, Jiang W. Gut microbiota alterations in moderate to severe acne vulgaris patients. J Dermatol. 2018 Oct;45(10):1166-1171. - PubMed
    1. Juhl CR, Bergholdt HKM, Miller IM, Jemec GBE, Kanters JK, Ellervik C. Dairy Intake and Acne Vulgaris: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 78,529 Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults. Nutrients. 2018 Aug 09;10(8) - PMC - PubMed
    1. George RM, Sridharan R. Factors Aggravating or Precipitating Acne in Indian Adults: A Hospital-Based Study of 110 Cases. Indian J Dermatol. 2018 Jul-Aug;63(4):328-331. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Motosko CC, Zakhem GA, Pomeranz MK, Hazen A. Acne: a side-effect of masculinizing hormonal therapy in transgender patients. Br J Dermatol. 2019 Jan;180(1):26-30. - PubMed
    1. Gollnick H, Cunliffe W, Berson D, Dreno B, Finlay A, Leyden JJ, Shalita AR, Thiboutot D, Global Alliance to Improve Outcomes in Acne Management of acne: a report from a Global Alliance to Improve Outcomes in Acne. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2003 Jul;49(1 Suppl):S1-37. - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources