Acne Vulgaris: Different OTC Treatments

摘要

Acne vulgaris is one of the most common dermatologic conditions that affects nearly everyone at some point in their lifetime. Once thought as a condition only affecting teenagers, prevalence in adulthood has been increasing, especially in women 25 years of age and older. Almost 90 of all teenagers will report acne, and many will experience persistent acne into adulthood; by 40 years of age 1 of men and 5 of women will still have lesions. Despite the prevalence being higher in adolescents, the mean age for presentation to a physician is 24 years with 10 of office visits being made by patients between the ages of 35 and 44 years. Total direct costs for acne have been reported to exceed $3 billion annually. Although not life-threatening, acne may result in permanent scarring and long-lasting psycho-social effects, including low self-esteem, social anxiety, and depression. The avoidance of such consequences motivates patients to seek treatment; over $1 billion is spent on prescription medications annually, and the OTC market is estimated to be anywhere from 2 to 4 times this amount. Many patients will frequently seek OTC options prior to being evaluated by a physician for many reasons, including lower out-of-pocket costs, ease of accessibility, less irritation compared with prescription products, and perceived safety. There are many products available without a prescription for the treatment of acne, and pharmacists are in an ideal position to aid patients in the appropriate selection of a therapeutic regimen and provide education on the appropriate use.