ABSTRACT
The term acne should be restricted to the disorder often known as acne vulgaris and not used for other papular disorders of facial skin such as rosacea (see pages 5). It may be defined as a common dis order of hair-bearing skin in which the follicular canal tends to become blocked by keratinous debris (comedones) and then becomes inflamed. Acne vulgaris is probably the commonest of all skin disorders and has an immense range of clinical expression and subtypes. Not unexpectedly ideas concerning its patho genesis and the range of treatments and management strategies available are also extensive. Clearly I will only be able to deal with the ‘headlines’ of the topic and suggest that the reader consult some of the more comprehensive texts when fuller knowledge is required.1,2
Acne can affect all humans with hair follicles. It is no respecter of ethnic type, geographical origin, socioeconomic class, gender, or even age. Accurate surveys do not appear to have been reported and so it is not possible to contrast the com - parative frequency or severity of disease in different groups. All that can be done is to provide our professional experience and anecdotal views.
