Paediatric dermatology: What’s new in acne?

Acne is one of the most prevalent skin diseases among young people and affects more than 85% of teenagers. This article reviews what is new in acne therapy. The update also includes a new way of looking at acne as a chronic disease, a discussion on the changing role of antibiotics in acne management as a result of concerns about microbial resistance, combined treatments, photodynamic therapy and factors that affect adherence to acne treatments. All these developments are based on a new understanding of the pathophysiology of acne: the role of P. acnes biofilm in the genesis of comedones and inflammation as a key phenomenon in the onset of acne lesions are some of the more recent contributions. The aim of the treatment is to avoid scars and the psychological sequelae of acne.