OPÇÕES TERAPÊUTICAS NO CUIDADO DA PELE COM ACNE: Revisão narrativa da literatura

Acne vulgaris is a multifactorial and chronic dermatological disease that affects around 80% of the population at some stage of their life. The main areas affected by acne are the face, neck, upper chest, shoulders and back and its consequences include changes in appearance, as well as discomfort and psychosocial impacts related to the self-esteem/self-image of those affected. The objective of the present study was to present general aspects about acne, its pathophysiology and the treatment options addressed in scientific studies. To this end, a narrative review was carried out through a search for articles retrieved from the Scielo database and the Google Scholar database, published in Portuguese and English, in the last 10 years. It was evident that there is a diversity of factors associated with the occurrence of acne, including lifestyle, endocrine history, genetic characteristics, diet, exposure to stress and emotional issues. First-line therapies are topical retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, azelaic acid, or combinations of topical active ingredients. For more serious illnesses, oral antibiotics such as doxycycline or minocycline, hormonal therapies such as combination oral contraceptive agents or spironolactone, or isotretinoin are more effective. In addition to these, treatment modalities have been described that include extraction, chemical peels, light and laser-based devices, radiofrequency devices with microneedles, and photodynamic therapy. In general, these aesthetic procedures reduce inflammatory acne lesions and help the lesions heal. Clinical monitoring is important because it is a long-term treatment, and it is important to raise patient awareness so that their expectations are met.