CURRENT INDICATIONS FOR ISOTRETINOIN AS A TREATMENT FOR ACNE-VULGARIS

Background: There is at present little published information on the cu rrent indications for isotretinoin as a treatment of acne vulgaris. Ob jectives: To investigate the factors which influence our current presc ribing of isotretinoin: acne severity, response to previous therapy, s carring and psychological effect. Methods: Data on the factors influen cing treatment of 200 patients with isotretinoin between January 1993 and May 1994 were examined. Results: 41% of patients were prescribed i sotretinoin for partial response to previous therapy, 26% for partial therapy and scarring and 17% for partial response to treatment and psy chological disturbance. Only 16 patients received isotretinoin for sev ere acne. Conclusion: Patients who show only partial response to conve ntional antibiotic therapy should be prescribed isotretinoin in order to minimize scarring and significant psychological disturbance, indepe ndently of the severity of the acne.