Medications Used for Acne Vulgaris: Practice Trends and the Use of Topical Combination Products

Abstract

Introduction: Acne is a common disease caused by multiple factors affecting the pilosebaceous follicles. As a result of the multifactorial nature of this disease, current treatment guidelines recommend using drugs from multiple classes. Adherence is a challenge when multiple drugs are needed in a treatment regimen. Newer combination products may help physicians combat this issue. The purpose of this paper was to examine prescribing patterns in the treatment of acne focusing on combination-product use. Methods: The National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey database was queried for visits for acne. Visits were analyzed for patient demographics and treatment regimens. Prescription for common treatments and combination products were analyzed to determine changes in prescribing over time. Results: The most common treatment for acne was topical retinoids. Two combination products were within the top 10 acne treatments. The use of combination products is increasing in primary care specialties (1. 26% per year; P=0. 002) as well as among dermatologists (0. 66% per year; P<0. 001). Primary care physicians (12. 6%) prescribed combination products at a higher percentage of visits than did dermatologists (11. 5%). Conclusion: The use of combination acne products is increasing. The use of combination products is expected to increase as a means of reducing treatment complexity and increasing adherence to treatment. © 2012 Springer Healthcare.