Intended for healthcare professionals

In the last 40 years – the evolution of acne treatment

William J Cunliffe
I was 16 years old. I had discovered what puberty is all about. I also just discovered zits. My GP knew very little about it. The treatment was worse than the disease. No chocolates or pork (I asked, ‘Do Jewish adolescents not get acne?’). Topical treatment was 2% sulphur ointment; this was unbelievably foul smelling and the smell lasted for hours after I had washed the stuff off my skin. There was certainly no need for contraception! What was even worse was the oral treatment, which consisted of brimstone (another sulphur-based preparation) and treacle. That was just plain horrible.
Dermatology in practice 2006; 14(1): 22–25
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