Extending isotretinoin therapy for 1 more month after complete clinical
improvement will assist in preventing acne relapse.
A study published in Dermatologic Therapy depicted that in people having acne vulgaris, extending oral isotretinoin therapy for one additional month after attaining complete clinical improvement, regardless of the cumulative dose, improves the success of therapy. Researchers undertook this cross-sectional study for determining the factors that impact relapse following isotretinoin therapy in 212 people (female-to-male ratio 3.15, mean age 23.5 ± 6.2 years) having acne.
The study recruited people using 0.3-1 mg/kg/day oral isotretinoin for at least four months. Participants were retrospectively examined regarding the relapse frequency and factors that impacted the relapse. The relapse rate was reported to be 37.3%, and the median time to relapse was ten months.
In younger people (age ≤ 20 years),
macrocomedone-type acne, and people having residual lesions at the end of the
therapy, the relapse rate was reported to be greater. For preventing relapse in
acne people using oral isotretinoin, it is of great importance for continuing
the therapy until complete clinical improvement and extend the therapy for at
least one more month irrespective of cumulative dose.
Dermatologic Therapy
Investigation of relapse rate and factors affecting relapse after oral isotretinoin treatment in patients with acne vulgaris
Elif Demirci Saadet
Comments (0)