Acne: evolution of the clinical practice and therapeutic management of acne between 1996 and 2000

According to epidemiological studies, acne is a common condition affecting 80% of young people between 12 and 18 years of age. It is also the most common reason for consultation in private dermatology practices. Yet, paradoxically, very few studies have been concerned with the profile and therapeutic treatment of acne patients. The aim of this study was to compare both the evolution of the profile of acne patients and the therapies used by dermatologists between 1996 and 2000 through a survey. Two questionnaires had to be filled in by the dermatologists for all patients consulting for acne, the first in 1996 and the second in 2000. The purpose of these questions was to obtain information about the demographic characteristics of the patients, a clinical evaluation of the patients' acne, their quality of life and finally their treatment. The statistical tests used Chi2 tests and variance analysis. The alpha risk was fixed at 0.05. Two thousand two hundred and eighty four patients were included in the survey in 1996 and 2363 in 2000. The mean age was 21 7.6 in 1996 and 20.5 7.7 in 2000, the majority of whom were female (64.4% in 1996 and 63.6% in 2000). In 1996 37.4% were students, and 52.4% in 2000. For 81.1% of the patients, the consultations were spontaneous on their own initiative both in 1996 and 2000. As regards topical treatment, a decrease of antibiotic prescriptions was noted between 1996 and 2000 associated with a decrease of benzoyl peroxyde use. Concerning the systemic treatments, an increase of doxycyclin and isotretinoin prescriptions was reported together with a decrease of minocycline treatment. Prescription of zinc salts and hormonal treatments were stable. The frequency of biological investigations remained similar and low. The repercussions of acne on the patient's quality of life were more numerous in 1996 compared to 2000 but they remained equally intense for those who reported them. The profile of acne patients evolved slightly between 1996 and 2000 and interestingly the treatments were modified to take into account the information in the literature such as bacterial resistance or severe side effects.