Acne Health Center

Acne affects between 40 to 50 million people in the United States, and is almost universal among the adolescent population as they go through puberty and often lasts into early adulthood.

Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation

Do you have acne in your armpits, on your groin, or under your breasts that just won’t clear? Or does it clear and then return? A skin disease called hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) can look like everyday acne.

In fact, another name for HS is “acne inversa.” HS is not the everyday acne that we know. It is a long-term skin disease, which often goes undiagnosed. The earlier HS is diagnosed, the better the outcome. HS can be disabling without treatment.

Research

Medical researchers are working on new drugs to treat acne, particularly topical antibiotics to replace some of those in current use. As with many other types of bacterial infections, doctors are finding that, over time, the bacteria that are associated with acne are becoming resistant to treatment with certain antibiotics, though it is not clear how significant a problem this resistance represents.

Scientists are also trying to better understand the mechanisms involved in acne so that they can develop new treatments that work on those mechanisms. For example, one group of NIAMS-supported researchers is studying the mechanisms that regulate the development of the sebaceous glands. Another group is trying to understand how P. acnes activates the immune system in order to identify possible immunologic interventions. Other areas of research involve examining the effects of isotretinoin (a potent drug for acne) on the sebaceous glands. Moreover, a new drug called isoprenylcysteine is currently being evaluated for the treatment of P. acnes-induced inflammation and overproduction of sebum.