Talking to patients about acne

Acne is a common skin problem which leads to significant distress, yet it is amenable to effective treatments. This article describes how I undertake the initial consultation. It’s a personal approach, but one you might find helpful. 

Patients with acne who are seen in secondary care have normally tried over the counter preparations, consulted their GP and other members of the primary care team and, by implication, are not happy with the progress they have made. In my experience they have usually had appropriate management but have either failed to respond to suppressive treatments, are unhappy with the response, or simply require a dermatologist to prescribe isotretinoin. Many have friends who have been treated with isotretinoin or they have researched acne and wish to explore that option.