Quality use of medicines: The teenager with moderate acne

Abstract

Acne is an oft-encountered presentation in family practice, and while sometimes downplayed as essentially a 'cosmetic' and self-limiting problem,it is nonetheless associated with a definite risk of scarring, both physically and emotionally. This paper uses the P-drug approach, as outlined in the WHO Guide to Good Prescribing, to describe a rational approach to the problem of choosing drug therapy for acne, particular in the teenager presenting with moderate acne.