As acne is such a common problem throughout the world, research is ongoing amongst medical professional to continually update the most effective treatments and outline areas of importance.

March of this year saw the culmination of 16 months hard work for the Acne Priority Setting Partnership in London, where 24 patients and health care professionals reached agreement about the top ten priority areas for acne treatment research to address.

Participants at the workshop worked to prioritise acne issues, and the blend of professionals and patients was a fruitful one- A clinician reflected ‘It was very useful to find out what patients want to know compared to what I thought they wanted to know.’

Top Ten areas of concern

The research priorities determined are important for all acne sufferers, as they mean time, money and effort get poured into addressing these issues and finding the most effective, affordable solutions.

The top ten most important questions for patients and clinicians alike were determined to be as follows:

1. What management strategy should be adopted for the treatment of acne in order to optimise short and long-term outcomes?

2. What is the correct way to use antibiotics in acne to achieve the best outcomes with least risk?

3. What is the best treatment for acne scars?

4. What is the best way of preventing acne?

5. What is the correct way to use oral isotretinoin (Roaccutane) in acne in order to achieve the best outcomes with least risk of potentially serious adverse effects?

6. Which lifestyle factors affect acne susceptibility or acne severity the most and could diet be one of them?”

7. What is the best way of managing acne in mature women who may/may not have underlying hormonal abnormalities?

8. What is the best topical product for treating acne?

9. Which physical therapies including lasers and other light based treatments are safe and effective in treating acne?

10. How long do acne treatments take to work and which ones are fastest acting?

Professionals discover patient priorities

Dr Alison Layton, clinical lead of the PSP said ‘As a specialist who has been looking after patients suffering from acne for many years, it has been fascinating to understand what matters most to all those people with acne who I never see in my hospital-based clinic…. We’ve listened to and learnt from all of them. It’s amazing how much we still don’t know about widely used treatments. Our number one priority might seem very broad but it reflects the fact that acne is a chronic condition that requires a radically new approach to long-term management if we are to meet people’s expectations of high quality care.’

Cosmetic Doctor and Acne Clinic

It’s now up to the research community to rise to the challenge and provide the answers patients and professionals want to increase the benefits and lower the risks of acne treatments.

Dr. Lisa Fay of Cosmetic Doctor stays on the leading edge of research in Europe and in the US; constantly seeking the latest in treatments and procedures to help patients in her acne clinic.

Dr. Fay treats teenage and adult acne; helping patients achieve an accurate diagnosis of the underlying cause and treating acne to prevent against scarring; helping patients to regain their self-esteem and normalise skin.

As she is a medical doctor, Dr. Fay can also prescribe prescription-only medication (POM) to help with hormonal fluctuations and inflammation that cause acne.

To book a consultation, simply call Cosmetic Doctor on 01 685 3100.