Acne Vulgaris: A Patient and Physician’s Experience

• Published in: Dermatology and therapy Vol. 10; no. 1; pp. 1 - 14
• Main Authors: Espinosa, Nicola I., Cohen, Philip R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cheshire Springer Healthcare 01-02-2020; Springer; Adis, Springer Healthcare
• Subjects: 13-cis-retinoic; Acid; Acne; Acne vulgaris; Acutane; Commentary; Dermatology; Development and progression; Diagnosis; Drug therapy; Experience; Internal Medicine; Isotretinoin; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; Patient and Physician Perspectives; Plastic Surgery; Quality of Life Research; United States; Acne vulgaris; Acid; Experience; Treatment; Physician; Patient; Trans-retinoic; Isotretinoin; 13-cis-retinoic; Acutane
• ISSN: 2193-8210; 2190-9172
• DOI: 10.1007/s13555-019-00335-0

In this article, the first coauthor, a young woman with acne vulgaris, shares her experience with the condition; she not only describes the clinical presentation and the eventual successful treatment of her acne, but also the emotional consequences that this skin disorder caused. The second coauthor, the patient’s dermatologist, reviews some of the features of acne vulgaris: morphologic manifestations, pathogenesis, and treatment options. He also summarizes the patient’s response to isotretinoin therapy. In addition, he reveals his subsequent enlightenment regarding the acne-related non-dermatologic effects that the patient experienced and the significant improvement of her self-image that occurred following the successful treatment of her acne.